The Influence of Health Literacy, Physical Activity, and Grip Strength on Self-Care Compliance in Older Male Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the relationships of health literacy, physical activity, and grip strength with self-care compliance in older male patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive was conducted, and 106 older male outpatients with chronic HF were recruited from a veterans’ hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from February 7, 2022 to April 10, 2022 using a self-reported questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: The average age of the participants was 76.3±4.5 years, and the average time elapsed since the heart failure diagnosis was 3.22±2.01 years. The mean self-care compliance score was 42.21±6.03 out of 60 points. In the univariate analysis, grip strength was not significantly correlated with self-care compliance. The hierarchical regression analysis indicated that health literacy (β=.33, p<.001), physical activity (β=.32, p=.001), and alcohol drinking (β=-.28, p=.001) had statistically significant effects on self-care compliance, collectively explaining 34% of the variance (adjusted R2=.34, F=12.00, p<.001). Conclusion: The study highlights the necessity of periodically assessing and considering health literacy and the level of physical activity when developing educational strategies to promote self-care compliance among older male patients with heart failure in outpatient nursing practice.