Effect of Health Education Based on Behavioral Change Theories on Self-Efficacy and Self-Management Behaviors in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Background: We aimed to explore the effect of health education and nursing intervention model based on behavioral change theories on self-efficacy and self-management behaviors in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: Eighty-six patients with chronic heart failure treated in the First Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from November 2016 to January 2018 were enrolled in this study. The patients were evenly divided into control group and observation group (43 patients in each group), according to the random number table method. Patients in the control group received a routine health education intervention. Patients in the observation group received health education based on behavioral change theories in addition to the routine nursing intervention. The health education included mastering of the disease-related theoretical knowledge, daily self-management and exercising guidance. After 8 weeks of intervention, the self-efficacy level, self-management ability and quality of life were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: The self-management behavior score in the observation group was higher than those in the control group (P=0.002). The chronic disease general self-efficacy (GSE) score in the observation group was higher than those in the control group (P=0.002). The quality of life (MHL) score was in the observation group was higher than those in the control group. The patient satisfaction score in the observation group was higher than those in the control group (P=0.021). Conclusions: Health education based on behavioral change theories can relieve symptoms of chronic heart failure, and improve patients’ self-efficacy level, self-management ability and patient satisfaction.