J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2022 Apr;28(1):23-33. 10.22650/JKCNR.2022.28.1.23.

Self-care in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Based on the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms

• Kim MY
• Lee SH
• Park HJ

• KMID: 2529719
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2022.28.1.23

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the relationships among disease severity, anxiety, depression, social support, unpleasant symptoms and self-care among patients with atrial fibrillation based on the unpleasant symptom theory, and to examine the mediating effects of unpleasant symptoms.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted. The participants were 216 patients with atrial fibrillation who were being followed up on an outpatient basis at a university hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from November 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS/WIN 27.0 and PROCESS macro with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval(CI).
Results
The average age of participants in this study was 66.0years. Disease severity (β=10.19,p<.001) and depression (β=1.53, p<.001) had significant positive relationships with unpleasant symptoms. Also, unpleasant symptoms (β=-0.03, p=.006) had a negative relationship with physical activity, which is a subscale of self- care. Social support (β=0.06, p<.001) was positively related with physical activity. Unpleasant symptoms showed a mediation effect in the relationship between disease severity and physical activity (Bias corrected bootstrap CI -0.65, -0.04). Depression had an indirect effect on physical activity that was mediated by unpleasant symptoms (Bias corrected bootstrap CI -0.11, -0.00).
Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that integrated strategies including physical, psychological, and social factors should be considered to promote self-care in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Keyword

Atrial Fibrillation; Social Support; Self-Care