Social support and self-care in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity712 @entity1017
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Self-care by @entity712 ( @entity712 ) @entity1 is essential for optimal disease management of their condition. However, as the nature of @entity712 is unrelenting and burdensome, self-care is usually achieved with the support of partners. It is not clear what role the level of social support by partners plays in @entity712 self-care; therefore, this study sets out to determine the types of social support provided to @entity712 @entity1 and the impact of differing levels of social support on @entity712 @entity1 ' self-care. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This is secondary analysis of a subgroup of @entity1 experiencing their second hospital admission for @entity712 at baseline in the COACH study, a multisite trial conducted in the Netherlands. Measures included the European @entity712 Self-care Behaviour Scale and a multiple component assessment of social support, which categorized @entity1 into low, moderate, and high levels of social support according to the presence of a partner and their perception of support they received from their partner. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: @entity1 (n = 333) had an average age of 72 (SD, 11) years, and 92% belonged to New York Heart Association class III or greater. Of the @entity1 with partners (56%), only 49% had a high level of support from their partner. No demographic or clinical characteristic was associated with self-care behavior. @entity1 with a high level of support reported significantly better self-care (P = .002) than @entity1 with low or moderate levels of social support. @entity1 with a high level of social support reported being significantly more likely to consult with a health professional for @entity1017 (P = .011), to limit the amount of fluids they have (P = .02), take their medication (P = .017), to get a flu shot (P = .001), and to exercise on a regular basis (P < .001) than those with medium or low levels of social support. The presence of social support by a partner is not sufficient to influence @entity712 @entity1 ' self-care. Social support provided by partners needs to be of a quality and content that matches @entity712 @entity1 ' perception of need to influence self-care. Caregivers, especially partners, should be considered as integral in the treatment and care of @entity712 @entity1 .
