Moser, Debra KDickson, Victoria VJaarsma, TinyLee, ChristopherStromberg, AnnaRiegel, Barbara2023-05-232023-05-232012-06-012018-08-23https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/41634Optimal outcomes and quality of life for patients with heart failure depend on engagement in effective self-care activities. Self-care is a complex set of activities and most clinicians are not adequately prepared to assist their patients to engage in effective self-care. In this paper, we provide an overview of self-care that includes definitions, the importance of self-care to outcomes, the physiologic basis for better outcomes with good self-care, cultural perspectives of self-care, and recommendations for the improvement of self-care. Promotion of effective self-care by all clinicians could substantially reduce the economic and personal burden of repeated rehospitalizations among patients with heart failure.This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Current Cardiology Reports. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11886-012-0267-9self-careheart failureoutcomesself-managementBehavioral MedicineCardiologyCardiovascular DiseasesCirculatory and Respiratory PhysiologyMedical HumanitiesMedicine and Health SciencesNursingPreventive MedicineArticle