# Patient-Reported Self-Care Behaviors, Self-Efficacy, and Their Associated Factors in Men and Women with Coronary Heart Disease

## TL;DR

Men and women with heart disease struggle with self-care, with men showing higher depression and women higher anxiety, suggesting the need for targeted health interventions.

## Contribution

The study identifies sex-specific factors affecting self-care in coronary heart disease patients and proposes targeted interventions.

## Key findings

- Self-care monitoring and management were inadequate for both men and women with coronary heart disease.
- Depression scores were higher in men, while anxiety scores were higher in women.
- Older age, low education, and depression were associated with worse self-care outcomes.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Self-care maintenance was adequate in men. Self-care monitoring and self-care management were inadequate for both sexes.Depression scores were higher in men, while anxiety scores were higher in women.

Self-care maintenance was adequate in men. Self-care monitoring and self-care management were inadequate for both sexes.

Depression scores were higher in men, while anxiety scores were higher in women.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Healthcare providers should enhance self-care education. Interventions must address sedentary lifestyles in women and cigarette smoking in men.Strategies for medication adherence and symptom recognition are essential. Mental health support should be integrated into care.

Healthcare providers should enhance self-care education. Interventions must address sedentary lifestyles in women and cigarette smoking in men.

Strategies for medication adherence and symptom recognition are essential. Mental health support should be integrated into care.

Background/Objective: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women across most racial and ethnic groups. Effective self-care improves patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine self-care and its associated variables in men and women with coronary heart disease. Methods: This cross-sectional survey enrolled patients with coronary heart disease through convenience sampling. Data were collected via in-person interview, including sociodemographic variables (e.g., age and sex) and clinical variables (e.g., comorbidities). We also used the Charlson Comorbidity Index to measure comorbidity; the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to measure depression; and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 to measure anxiety. Self-care was evaluated with the Self-care Coronary Heart Disease Inventory and Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. This study adhered to the CROSS guidelines. Results: The sample comprised 354 patients (57.6% men and 42.4% women). Self-care monitoring and management scores were inadequate with women. Self-care self-efficacy scores were marginally adequate. Men had worse depression, comorbidities, and smoking, while women had higher anxiety and a sedentary lifestyle. Older age, low education, public transportation use, sedentary lifestyle, comorbidity, anxiety, and depression were associated with worse self-care, whereas being single and ambulance accessibility improved self-care. Conclusions: Self-care monitoring and self-care management scores were inadequate for both sexes. Depression and public transportation use were inversely associated with all self-care domains. Depression and anxiety screening should be included in routine practice. Healthcare providers should enhance self-care education for CHD patients. Interventions must address sedentary lifestyles in women and cigarette smoking in men.