ความรอบรู้สารสนเทศด้านสุขภาพและการดูแลตนเองในผู้สูงอายุที่มีภาวะหัวใจล้มเหลว

Abstract

Older persons with heart failure who practice appropriate self-care can improve their quality of life. This descriptive research aims to study electronic health literacy, self-care, and the relationship between electronic health literacy and self-care among older persons with heart failure. The sample group consisted of 84 older persons with heart failure receiving treatment in the heart failure clinic and cardiology clinic at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. The sample was specifically selected from December 2022 to November 2023. Inclusion criteria include having normal cognitive function, being able to perform activity of daily living, being diagnosed with heart failure for at least 3 months, understanding and communicating in Thai, possessing a mobile or desktop communication device, and being able to access health information on the internet. Data collection tools include a demographic and illness data recording form, a self-care questionnaire for those with heart failure, and an electronic health literacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation statistics. The research results revealed that: 1. Electronic health literacy in older persons with heart failure, both overall and in specific areas, including at the basic level, the communication level, the critical thinking level, and the level of interpreting electronic health information into practice, was at a moderate level. 2. Self-care in individuals with heart failure, both overall and in specific aspects, including self-maintenance, symptom awareness, and self-care management, was at an inadequate level. 3. Overall electronic health literacy had a statistically significant correlation with self-care in older persons with heart failure, both overall and in specific aspects such as self-maintenance, symptom awareness, and self-care management, at a moderate level with p < .01. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients were 0.607, 0.508, 0.551, and 0.520, respectively. The results of this study can be used as information for health care professionals caring for older persons with heart failure to improve their self-care through the promotion of electronic health literacy in this population.