Fostering self-care behaviours through symptom diary use? An exploratory, cross-sectional study about the use of and attitude towards a symptom diary of patients with heart failure

Using health diaries is associated with improved outcomes in patients with heart failure. However, heart failure patients’ attitudes towards using a diary have not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was to investigate heart failure patients’ attitudes towards and the factors influencing diary use. Patients who took part in an educational session to foster self-care behaviours, during which they were given a diary, were asked to participate in this explorative, cross-sectional survey study. The survey took place at least six months after the educational session. Over half of the 53 participants (52.8%) were still using the diary. Reasons for not using it were no perceived need to use it, stable vital signs, and being able to recognise symptoms of exacerbation without the diary. Users and non-users did not differ in their general attitudes towards diary use except regarding the statements ‘Keeping a diary makes no sense’ and ‘Keeping a diary helps to control the disease and the occurrence of symptoms’. Therefore, diary users may be prone to better self-care activities. Age and living situation are influencing diary use. To improve diary adherence, health care providers should stress the advantage of using a diary and the importance of diary adherence.