# Peer Support for Women with Heart Disease: Program Description and Evaluation of Women@Heart

## TL;DR

A peer support program for women with heart disease improves their well-being and health behaviors, but needs more testing.

## Contribution

The Women@Heart program is evaluated for its feasibility and effectiveness in supporting women with heart disease.

## Key findings

- The Women@Heart program improved psychosocial and health behavior measures in women with heart disease.
- Peer-led support increased coping skills and health empowerment among participants.
- The program is feasible but requires large-scale evaluation for broader validation.

## Abstract

Women with heart disease face higher risks of death, cardiac events, depression, and reduced quality of life, compared to men. However, women’s participation level in cardiac rehabilitation programs remains low. Peer support programs, such as Women@Heart (W@H), led by women with lived experiences, can enhance program uptake and improve psychosocial well-being. Our pilot evaluation of W@H showed improvements in psychosocial and health behaviour measures, including coping skills and health empowerment. This program evaluation demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of W@H in addressing the unique needs of women with heart disease; however, further and large-scale evaluation is needed.