Background: Chronic heart failure is caused by several cardiac conditions. Heart failure can consist of forward failure and/or backward failure, which can affect the right ventricle as well as the left. The main symptoms are fatigue, dyspnea, and oedema. Modern medical treatment has improved the prognosis. Physical activity increases muscle strength, enhances quality of life, and reduces the risk of hospitalisation. Nurses need to be perceptive towards the persons’ experiences to support their health and well-being. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe older persons’ experiences of living with chronic heart failure. Method: A qualitative literature-based study was used in which 13 qualitative articles were analysed. The results were interpreted to obtain new themes. Results: Three main themes were discovered: “To not recognize your own body”, “To find hope and meaning” and “To maintain self-care ability”. The first main theme consisted of two subthemes: “Fatigue leads to physical limitations” and “To feel despair and fear”. The second main theme consisted of three subthemes: “To continue living”, “Motivation to self-care” and “Desire for normality”. Two subthemes emerged from the third main theme: “To need support from family” and “The importance of information and a person-centered care”. Conclusion: Chronic heart failure affected the persons’ lives mentally, physically, and socially.They felt alienated in terms of themselves and their bodies. Support from family and friends,and person-centered information provided by the nurse, had an important role concerning selfcare.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hv-18085 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Kjellstorp, Elin, Hjärn, Sandra |
| Publisher | Högskolan Väst, Avdelningen för omvårdnad - grundnivå |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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