THE CONCEPT OF SELF-CARE IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS: A ROGERS EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Self – care concept is one of the components of self – care nursing theory.
Regarding chronic course of hepatitis, it can cause numerous consequences on various aspects of
patient's life. This study aims to clarify the concept of self-care and its attributes, antecedents, and
consequences for patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis
Materials & Methods: This approach has been used to analyze the concept of Rodgers evolution. The
literature published between 1989 and 2011 in the care of nursing and non-nursing (health, medicine,
etc.) were selected for searching scientific databases. After applying the selection criteria and final
sampling, 2 books, 65 articles and a graduate thesis in the area of nursing and non-nursing (health,
medicine, etc.) were selected and analyzed.
Results: The analysis showed that the concept of self-care is a complex concept and the concept of
self-care in patients with hepatitis is a process of conceptual nature, and its self-management, selfmonitoring, education and interaction revealed as well. Here are three types of antecedents including
the clients (self-efficacy, self-esteem), the system (resources, social and cultural factors), and the care
providers (participation). Self-care is very extensive and influenced by personal factors (client)
system, and care providers. In this study the concept of self-care outcomes, included stress reduction,
increasing of the quality of life, changing lifestyles, increasing knowledge and awareness, increasing
patient adaptation and acceptance of the disease.
Conclusion: The results showed that the concept of self-care during the last 22 years in chronic
patients, especially patients with chronic hepatitis has been evolved. And the nurses have been able to
significantly enhance their knowledge in the areas of self-care for their patients, so that nurses care
teams could have considerable influence on their patients. As a result, this leads to an increase in the
authority and nursing profession independency