Families living with heart failure: An international study focusing on family functioning, family health, and social support from nurses

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) has become a global pandemic. HF with its significant mortality, morbidity, hospitalizations, and health care costs has become a huge burden on healthcare services. HF also takes its toll on patients’ and their families’ daily lives, often requiring lifestyle change. The progressive restricted life of patients with HF can also negatively impact families’ daily life, health status, and quality of life. Family functioning plays a key role in the adaptation to illness and lifestyle modifications of the individual. A family with reduced family functioning may be unable to cope with challenges, changes, and limitations imposed by HF.