本研究係一敘述及相關性研究，目的在了解心臟移植術後病人症狀困擾、社會支持與自我照顧行為相關情形。於北部兩所醫學中心接受正位心臟移植手術後，出院返家且術後六個（含）以上的病人為研究對象。本研究工具為一結構式問卷，共收集63份有效問卷。結果發現心臟移植術後病人自我照顧行為平均得62.02分（總分84分），各層面每題平均得分，依序為定期回院檢查追蹤、按時服藥、飲食控制、規則運動、預防感染、感染與排斥現象的觀察。症狀困擾方面，出現症狀症狀頻率平均得分46.60分，症狀困擾程度平均得分35.36 分（總分 174 分），皆與自我照顧行為各層面呈負相關。社會支持方面平均得分22.16 分（總分 48 分），與自我照顧行為呈正相關。心臟移植術後病例人的年齡、教育程度、婚姻狀況、症狀困擾及社會支持可解釋自我照顧行為在整體上為 47.71% 的變異量；在按時服約上為 35.05% 的變異量；在規則運動上為 22.95% 的變異量；在飲食控制上為35.75% 的變異量；在感染與排斥現象的觀察上為 18.00% 的變異量；在預防感染上為19.90% 的變異量；在定期回院檢查追蹤上無任何變項具有預測力。

Themain purpose of this research was to explore the relationships of symptom distress and social support with self - care behaviors in heart transplant recipients. Thiswas a descriptive correlational research. Data were collected from outpatient departments of two medical center in Taipei or at patients' homes. Thesample consisted of 63 adult patients who were 6 months after orthotopic heart transplantation with stable condition. Theinstruments were structured questionnaires. Themajor findings of this research were as follows:"Self-Care Scale" mean score was 62.02. Clinic visits were found to be better than others including taking medication, diet control, regular exercise, infection preventive and observation of infection and rejection signs﹒\"Symptom Frequency Scale" mean score was 46. 60 and "SymptomDistress Scale" mean score was 35.36, both showing a negative relationship with self-care behaviors."Social Support Scale" mean score was 22.16 which showed a positive relationship with self-care behaviors.Findings indicate that 47.71 % of the variance in whole self-care behaviors can be predicted by age, education, marriage of patients, symptom distress and social support; 35.05% of the variance in taking medication; 22.95% of the variance in regular exercise; 35.75% of the variance in diet control; 18.00% of the variance in observation of infection and rejection signs; 19.90% of the variance in preventive infection; no variance in clinic visits.