To use the scale, click here (link to page with the scale). No license is needed and it is free to use.
An estimated 15 million people in Europe are suffering from heart failure, a figure that is increasing due to an ageing population and improved treatment in acute cardiac conditions. Heart failure is associated with recurrent hospitalisations, emergency room visits and low quality of life, but good self-care has been shown to improve patients' prospects.
Self-care in heart failure patients refers to behaviours or actions that the patient himself performs with the aim of increasing longevity, health and well-being. This may include diet and exercise, the patient's ability to manage their situation and illness, and adherence to medication, but also daily weight control to prevent fluid retention, and contacting the healthcare system if symptoms occur.
In order to be able to evaluate interventions, it is important to assess patients' self-care and measure how they have changed their behaviour as a result of the intervention. The assessment can also help healthcare professionals to target education and support in their care.
We have developed a user-friendly and psychometricly tested instrument: the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale, EHFScB scale.
The EHFScB scale was published in 2003 and consists of various statements (items) where the patient can mark their response on a five-point scale, from "totally agree" to "totally disagree". The EHFScB scale is today translated into a number of languages and is available (in some translations) in two versions with nine and twelve items respectively.
You are very welcome to use the EHFScB scale in the language you want. No license is needed and it is free to use. If there is no version in the language you wish, there is a manual of the translation procedure here.
Anyone who is interested in how the scale was developed can read more via the link below.
