The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on performing self-care activities based on orem’s self-care model among elderly people suffering from congestive heart failure; a randomized double-blind control

Introduction: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common diseases among elderly people in which lack of knowledge about self-care can lead to negative consequences. Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the most important methods of therapy. Using Orem’s self-care model can also help the patient perform self-care activities.
Objectives: Investigating the effect of the cardiac rehabilitation on performing self-care based on Orem’s self-care model in elderly people suffering from CHF.
Methods and Materials: In this randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial, 90 patients with CHF were enrolled in the study. Block randomization method was used to randomize the participants, into case and control groups. Data were collected from both groups before and immediately after interventions using questionnaires. Patients in the case group participated in the cardiac rehabilitation programs consisted of three one-hour sessions per week for eight consecutive weeks. They also simultaneously received face-to-face required trainings based on Orem's model. Participants in the control group only received routine instructions of the hospitals.
Results: The mean (±SD) age of the patients were (65.42±5.73) and (65.46±6.73) in the case and control groups respectively (p=0.973).In the case group, mean change scores for self-care were statistically significant before and after intervention (p<0.001)and increases in the mean change scores were observed in responses to all self-care items after intervention.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that using cardiac rehabilitation and Orem’s model could improve self-care ability in elderly suffering from CHF.