PMID- 14690872
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20040701
LR  - 20220321
IS  - 1360-7863 (Print)
IS  - 1360-7863 (Linking)
VI  - 8
IP  - 1
DP  - 2004 Jan
TI  - Congestive heart failure patients' perceptions of quality of life: the 
      integration of physical and psychosocial factors.
PG  - 83-91
AB  - Congestive heart failure (CHF) lowers survival and worsens the quality of life 
      (QOL) of over four million older Americans. Both clinicians and standardized 
      instruments used to assess the QOL of patients with CHF focus primarily on 
      physical symptoms rather than capturing the full range of psychosocial concerns. 
      The purpose of this study was to gather descriptions of the components of QOL as 
      understood by patients living with CHF. Focus groups were conducted with patients 
      with known CHF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I-IV, and left 
      ventricular fraction of <40%. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and 
      reviewed for common and recurrent themes using the methods of constant 
      comparisons. We conducted three focus groups (n = 15) stratified by NYHA stage 
      with male patients ranging in age from 47-82 years of age. Five patients were 
      classified with NYHA stage III/IV and ten with NYHA stage I/II. Thirty attributes 
      of QOL were identified which fell into five broad domains: symptoms, role loss, 
      affective response, coping, and social support. Expectedly, patients reported the 
      importance of physical symptoms; however, participants also identified concern 
      for family, the uncertainty of prognosis, and cognitive function as dimensions of 
      QOL. Changes in patients' lives attributed to CHF were not always considered 
      deficiencies; rather, methods of coping with CHF were identified as important 
      attributes representing possible opportunities for personal growth. Clinicians 
      must understand the full range of concerns affecting the QOL of their older 
      patients with CHF. The findings suggest that psychosocial aspects and patient 
      uncertainty about their prognosis are important components of QOL among CHF 
      patients.
FAU - Bosworth, H B
AU  - Bosworth HB
AD  - Center for Health Service Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs 
      Medical Center, NC 27705, USA. hboswort@acpub.duke.edu
FAU - Steinhauser, K E
AU  - Steinhauser KE
FAU - Orr, M
AU  - Orr M
FAU - Lindquist, J H
AU  - Lindquist JH
FAU - Grambow, S C
AU  - Grambow SC
FAU - Oddone, E Z
AU  - Oddone EZ
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
PL  - England
TA  - Aging Ment Health
JT  - Aging & mental health
JID - 9705773
SB  - IM
MH  - Activities of Daily Living/*psychology
MH  - Adaptation, Psychological
MH  - Aged
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Cross-Sectional Studies
MH  - Focus Groups
MH  - Gender Identity
MH  - Geriatric Assessment
MH  - Heart Failure/*psychology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - North Carolina
MH  - Quality of Life/*psychology
MH  - Self Care/psychology
MH  - *Sick Role
MH  - *Social Adjustment
MH  - Social Support
MH  - Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/*psychology
EDAT- 2003/12/24 05:00
MHDA- 2004/07/02 05:00
CRDT- 2003/12/24 05:00
PHST- 2003/12/24 05:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2004/07/02 05:00 [medline]
PHST- 2003/12/24 05:00 [entrez]
AID - QUG77NEG2UQ7HG49 [pii]
AID - 10.1080/13607860310001613374 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Aging Ment Health. 2004 Jan;8(1):83-91. doi: 10.1080/13607860310001613374.