ORIGINAL ARTICLE Bali Medical Journal (Bali Med J) 2017, Volume 6, Number 3: 557-561 P-ISSN.2089-1180, E-ISSN.2302-2914 557 Open access: www.balimedicaljournal.org and ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/bmj CrossMark Published by DiscoverSys ABSTRACT Background: The prevalence ratio of heart failure is significantly increased, especially in low and middle-income countries. Adoption of self-care behaviors effectively and efficiently might be reducing the costs in result of heart failure outcomes and complications from the disease. This study aimed to determine the effects of the continuous care model on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients. Methods: A Randomized controlled trial with Pre-test/Post-test control group design was conducted on some 80 patients with heart failure. The subjects in this study were randomly assigned to intervention (n=40) and control group (n=40). In the experimental group, Continuous care model applied for a period of three months from April to the end of June 2016, and self-care behaviors in heart failure patients in the two groups before and after the implementation of continuous care models were compared. Data collection tools included two parts: Demographic characteristics and specific questionnaire of self-care heart failure index. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 20, chi- square, independent T, and paired test. Results: The mean score of the Self-Care Behaviors before the intervention, at the intervention and control group were 28.33 ± 12.72 and 26.99 ± 1.96 respectively (P= 0. 663). But after the intervention, mean score of the Self-Care Behaviors in the intervention and control groups were 50.86 ± 11.96 and 28.93 ± 10.96 respectively (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Implementation of the continuous care model can lead to improving self-care behaviors in heart failure patients. Keyword: Heart Failure, Self-Care, Continuous care model Cite This Article: Rahmani, A., Moradi, Y., Aghakarimi, K., Hossain-Gholipour, K. 2017. Effect of continuous care model on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients: a randomized controlled trial (Continuous care model for self-care behaviors promotion). Bali Medical Journal 6(3): 557-561. DOI:10.15562/bmj.v3i3.638 Effect of continuous care model on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients: a randomized controlled trial (Continuous care model for self-care behaviors promotion) Alireza Rahmani, 1 Yaser Moradi, 2 Khadijeh Aghakarimi, 1* Keyvan Hossain-Gholipour 3 INTRODUCTION e most common complication of cardiovascular disease is heart failure, which increases mortality, disability and imposes enormous costs on the coun- try. 1 About 23 million patients worldwide suffer from heart failure. 2 is disease is responsible for one million hospitalizations and 5000 deaths in the United States each year. 3 Also, heart failure is a major cause of disability and death in Iran, and on the current prevalence of heart failure, 3500 people per one hundred thousand people will be added by changing the age pyramid of society and aging of the young population in the near future in Iran. 4 If serious measures are not taken in this regard, heart failure in the future will be one of the main challenges. 5 In recent years, focusing on educational-sup- portive therapy, particularly reception their treat- ment and care in patients with heart failure has been increasingly considered. 6 However, one of the major complaints that are frequently stated by patients with heart failure is a lack of awareness in self-care behaviors. 7 According to the studies, poor self-care behaviors observed in these patients have been associated with increased readmission rate. erefore, the majority of heart failure manage- ment programs, emphasizes that the improvement of self-care behaviors as a key to promotion of qual- ity of life, reduced mortality and health care costs in these patients. 5,7,8 So that 90 percent of patients when discharging from hospital and continuation of daily activities at home have questions about their care, diet, medi- cations, and complications. Health care providers, especially nurses must communicate effectively and consistently with them and follow up them, in case of any problems and questions to help patients and to provide guidance to solve their problems. 9 Zamanzadeh in their study concluded that although many patients with heart failure receive training, they do not have a clear under- standing of self-care behavior, and these patients require frequent training. 10 Accordingly, lifestyle changes in heart failure patients require follow-up and education by health care providers, especially 1 MSc. Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran 2 PhD Student, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran 3 MSc in Critical Care Nursing, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran * Corresponding to: Khadijeh Aghakarimi, Abbassi hospital,Shohadayeh Karaveran street, Miyandoab, West Azarbijan, Iran Miyandoab West- Azerbaijan Iran, Islamic Republic Of 5971757555 00984445351800 00989141838394 00984445350924 aghakarimi.khadijeh@gmail.com Received: 2017-05-24 Accepted: 2017-08-28 Published: 2017-09-1