The relationship between social support and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Objective: To describe the level of social support and quality of life in heart failure patients, and to examine their relationship with perceived social support and quality of life.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in the cardiology outpatient units of two university hospitals in Izmir, Turkey, between January and September 2010. Using convenience sampling the study comprised 150 patients who were assessed on the 12-point Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the 36-point Left Ventricular Dysfunction Scale. Data were analysed through SPSS 15, using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation test.

Results: The mean total scores for each variable are as follows: perceived social support (49.34 +/- 17.57), perceived social support from family (24.25 +/- 6.17), perceived social support from friends (12.75 +/- 8.16) and perceived social support from others (12.33 +/- 7.81). The mean quality of life score was 69.25 +/- 23.12. There was a moderately significant negative correlation between the scores of the two scales employed by the study.

Conclusions: The quality of life of the patients improved with increasing social support. Determining and improving family and other social support for heart failure patients should be an essential part of nursing practice.