Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Dr. Leora Swartzman

Abstract

Increasing adherence to self-care behaviours can optimize the health of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). This study examined whether considering the compatibility of self-care to valued life goals can improve the prediction of self-care adherence, above and beyond knowledge and self-efficacy. Forty CHF patients (22.5% female; mean age = 66.22) identified their goals though a card-sort and rated the compatibility of self-care regimens to these priorities. Aspects of CHF knowledge, self-efficacy and adherence to self-care were also assessed. Results indicated that participants valued CHF management, but its importance did not correlate with adherence. General and applied knowledge was associated with compliance to weighing and diet, respectively, while self-efficacy correlated with diet as well as exercise. Goal compatibility added significant variance to explain exercise adherence after controlling for other variables. These findings point to the merit of designing interventions to help patients leverage valued goals to address targeted health behaviours.

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