OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess adult heart failure patients’ adherence to self-care recommendations and its associated factors.

METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 adult heart failure patients attending Gondar University referral hospital from February to May 2017. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face to face interview and from the patients’ medical records. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A binary logistic regression model was used to check the effect of different factors on the patients’ adherence level.

RESULTS: Of 310 study participants only 22.3 % (95% CI, 17.4%-26.8%) of heart failure patients reported good adherence to their self-care recommendations. Adherence to self-care recommendation was positively associated with being male in gender (AOR=2.34, 95% CI: 1.18-4.62), good level of heart failure knowledge (AOR =2.49, 95% CI: 1.276-4.856) and absence of chronic comorbid diseases (AOR =2.57, 95% CI: 1.28-5.14).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, heart failure patients’ adherence to self-care recommendation is poor and selective. Being male in gender, the absence of chronic co-morbidity, and a good level of heart failure knowledge were positively associated with adherence to self-care recommendations. It is therefore strategic to plan improving heart failure patients’ knowledge about heart failure signs, symptoms and its management, to improve the patients’ adherence level.