Dark or Bright Half of the Moon: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experience of Iranian Heart Failure Patients Regarding their Quality of Life

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem in different societies and has numerous impacts on quality of life (QOL).
 AIM: The present study was carried out with the aim to explore the experience of HF patients regarding the negative effects of the disease on their QOL.
 METHODS: In this qualitative exploratory study data collection was performed through face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 19 patients with HF, who were selected through purposive sampling method from April to September 2017. Data analysis was carried out based on the framework analysis method.
 RESULTS: The negative consequences of HF on QOL emerged in the form of 6 main themes including symptoms, disease complications, cognitive impairment, psychological distress, functional limitations and economic problems. Most of the participants (14 out of 19) assessed their QOL as well or very well.
 CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients in this study, despite the many negative impacts of HF, had a high QOL that could indicate their satisfaction and effective coping with HF by creating a positive outlook and the perceived positive effects of the disease.

Relationship between perceived social support and psychological hardiness with family communication patterns and quality of life of oncology patients

“…QoL is one of the concepts that play a significant role in the field of life‐threatening disorders (Moshki et al., 2019). Some studies have suggested that QoL is influenced by many factors and that if these variables are improved, negative effects can be reduced and individuals’ QoL may be improved (Zhang et al., 2018).…”

Cultural adaptation of the ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends) as an early palliative care model among heart failure patients and caregivers in Iran: A qualitative study protocol

“…Heart failure's uncertain course and management challenges impact not just patients physically but also induce psychological and social burdens, including depression and diminished quality of life for both patients and caregivers (7)(8)(9). Furthermore, the strain of heart failure results in frequent hospitalizations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced overall quality of life (10).…”

“…Patients a icted with HF commonly experience debilitating clinical manifestations and recurrent episodes of disease exacerbation, leading to a decline functional capability and disruption of their daily activities (5). Moreover, the effective management of this disease is an intricate undertaking requiring signi cant lifestyle modi cations, strict adherence to a multiple medication regimen, and regular medical visits (6) The uncertain and precarious trajectory of heart failure, along with the complexity of its management, not only affect the physical aspects of the disease but also have psychological and social implications, including depression, mental distress, and reduced quality of life (QoL) in both patients with HF (7,8), and their caregivers (9). Additionally, the impact of HF places signi cant strain on both patients and the healthcare system, leading to frequent hospitalizations, escalating healthcare expenses, and diminished QoL (10).…”

Chronic heart failure health-related quality of life questionnaire (CHFQOLQ-20): development and psychometric properties

“… Item generation: Items were generated by performing a literature review, and conducting qualitative studies [ 29 , 30 ]. An extensive review of the literature was conducted with special emphasis on theories, models, and existing instruments for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with CHF.…”