Objective:

To identify the concepts of quality of life and self-care in individual swith heart failure (HF).

Method:

Qualitative research, carried out in a cardiovascular unit of a University Hospital in Salvador - Bahia, Brazil. The sample consisted of 21 subjects. The data collection instrument was composed of questions related to socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, clinical data, aspects and conceptions of HF, quality of life and self-care. Data analysis was based on Bardin.

Results:

Four categories were identified: heart failure as obstacle to maintaining quality of life; conceptions of quality of life by individual swith HF; self-care as promoting the well-being of individual swith HF; and self-care practiced by individual swith HF.

Conclusion:

It was found that individuals with HF refer to decrease in quality of life in the face of the diagnose of the disease; they recognize the importance of self-care and the difficulty in puttinggitin to practice.