Status quo and influencing factors of fear of disease progression in patients with chronic heart failure

ObjectiveTo investigate the status quo of fear of disease progression (FoP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and further explore the influencing factors of FoP.

MethodsA total of 198 patients with CHF were enrolled as subjects by convenient sampling.The investigation using self-designed general information questionnaire, health literacy scale of chronic disease, self-efficacy scale of chronic disease, social support rating scale, and fear of progression questionnaire-short form (FoP-Q-SF) was conducted.

ResultsThe total FoP score of 198 patients was (31.97±8.96), of which 88 patients (44.44%) had FoP psychological dysfunction with scores ≥ 34.The influence of different medical payment methods, cardiac function stages, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and course of disease on patients' FoP level was statistically significant (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The health literacy scores and self-efficacy score of CHF patients were negatively correlated with FoP-Q-SF scores (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the higher the cardiac function stage, the lower the LVEF and the lower the self-efficacy, the higher the FoP-Q-SF score of CHF patients (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe FoP psychology of CHF patients is generally in the middle level.Medical staff should pay attention to strengthening psychological intervention and self-efficacy to reduce the FoP level of patients.