Table 2.

Brief Description of the Methods used in the Studies Referred to in this Article.

Reference	Study Purpose	Study Design	Methods of Measuring Self- Care
Riegel, et al (in process)	1) To describe the transient, reversible factors associated with EDS in persons with HF; 2) To establish the longitudinal relationships among EDS, HF self-care, HRQL, and unplanned hospitalization after adjusting for the severity of HF; 3) To assess cognitive impairment as the mechanism by which EDS influences self-care and outcomes in persons with HF after adjusting for the severity of HF.	Prospective cohort study with a cohort with excessive daytime sleepiness (with and without cognitive impairment) and a control group without excessive daytime sleepiness (with and without cognitive impairment). We are seeking a sample of 280 persons.	Self-care is measured by self- report at monthly intervals for 6 months. 24-hour urine sodium levels are assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Adherence to the medication regimen is assessed over the 6-month period using electronic monitoring technology manufactured by AARDEX (www.aardex).
Carlson, et al (unpublished data)	To assess the social desirability and concurrent validity of the SCHFI items	Descriptive, observational design. A total of 34 persons were enrolled.	Surveys measuring social desirability and an interim version of the SCHFI with many of the items used in the SCHFI were administered in person in the hospital or by telephone after patients had been discharged.
Riegel, et al8	To test the effect of a motivational counseling approach on improving self- care in adults with chronic heart failure	Mixed methods longitudinal clinical intervention pilot trial with 15 adults with HF.	An interim version of the SCHFI was used to measure self-care at baseline and 3- months later. Intervention sessions by an advanced practice nurse were audiotaped and transcribed for the qualitative analysis
Riegel, et al9	To identify the factors associated with expertise in HF self-care	Mixed methods cross- sectional study of 29 adults with HF. Semi-structured interview guide used to elicit in depth accounts of self-care and the barriers and facilitators to self-care practice. Standardized instruments measured variables known to be related to self-care (e.g., social support, depression, family functioning, physical functioning, cognition and physician communication).	SCHFI was used to measure self-care at two interview sessions about one week apart. Triangulation methods were used to assess concordance of qualitative data (narrative accounts of self-care) and the quantitative SCHFI score.
Dickson, et al33	To examine the contribution of biobehavioral variables to HF self-care management.	Mixed methods cross- sectional concurrent nested study (QUAL+quan) with xx adults with HF. Narrative accounts of self-care and attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs about self-care were elicited using a semi- structured interview guide. Cognition, physical functioning and knowledge were measured using standardized instruments.	The SCHFI was used to measure self-care management and maintenance. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative self-care data were used to anchor the construction of a typology of self-care management.

QUAL = qualitative data takes precedence over quantitative (quan) data; SCHFI=Self-Care of Heart Failure Index