Journal of

Backgrounds and Aim: Self-care behaviors are an important aspect of Heart Failure (HF), management, Educating self-care behaviors to HF patients have to be a part of routine management of HF in hospitals and health care Centers. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of an educational intervention on self-care behaviors and its perceived benefits and barriers in patients with HF in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: This is was an interventional study. A Simple sampling was conducted on 180 outpatients (90 intervention group and 90 control group) with HF referring to Shaheed Rajaee Heart Hospital in Tehran to participate in this study. Before and 2 months after implementing the educational program through group discussion, face to face interview, educational movies and pamphlets, a self-prepared questionnaire was completed by the participants. Validity and reliability of the scales were approved. SPSS software was used for the purpose of data entry, manipulation, and analysis.

Results: After implementing the educational program, patients' self-care (74.5%) and perceived benefits (19.35%) were significantly increased (P<0.0001) and their perceived barriers (27.76%) were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). After intervention there was no significant difference in these variables in control group.

Discussion and Conclusion: In order to design effective educational programs, healthcare professionals and nurses should better understand self-care behaviors in HF patients and their determinants and develop educational interventions. Promoting perceived benefits and barriers of these behaviors are priorities of the program. Healthcare professionals and nurses applying such educational programs can have a more effective role in promoting self-care behaviors and consequently quality of life of HF patients.

Background and Aim: Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), which is a prevalent disease, can have a considerable impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to explore the factors related to QOL based on PRECEDE Model in patients with PUD in Sanandaj, Iran.

Materials and Methods: A non-probability sample of 120 outpatients with PUD, referring to Beasat Hospital, in the city of Sanandaj participated in the study. The study took place between March and June of 2009. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed and the data were collected using a survey questionnaire based on PRECEDE model, consisting of QOL, Health Status, predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors and self-management behaviors constructs. The data collected by interview and analyzed by SPSS v. 11.5. The statistical analysis of the data included Pearson correlation, t- test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression.

Results: Health status (p<0.01), reinforcing (p<0.01) and enabling (p<0.05) factors and knowledge (p<0.05) as a predisposing factor were related to quality of life of peptic ulcer patients. Moreover, health status (p<0.05) and social support as a reinforcing factor (p<0.01) had significant relationships with self-management behaviors. Finally, all of PRECEDE variables accounted for 68.9% of the variation of quality of life in PUD patients.

Discussion and Conclusion: With respect to the results of this study, preparing an educational program to promote self-management behaviors and quality of life in peptic ulcer patients is proposed. It was concluded that the PRECEDE Model may be used in developing countries, like Iran, as a framework for planning intervention programs in an attempt to improve the quality of life of patients with PUD.