Awareness, attitude, and self-care behaviors in patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess patients' levels of awareness, attitude, and self-care behaviors following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The cross-sectional research selected 138 CABG patients using convenience sampling in 2021. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire, specifically designed for patients with cardiovascular conditions. The mean awareness score among participants was 23.68 (standard deviation [SD]=2.93), the attitude score was 27.95 (SD=2.93), and the self-care behavior score was 79.27 (SD=8.70). These results suggest relatively high levels of awareness, attitude, and self-care behavior among cardiovascular patients post-CABG surgery. A significant association was found between age and awareness (P=0.020), indicating that awareness decreased with increasing age. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed a significant relationship between education level and awareness (P=0.010), with lower scores observed in those below high school and high school diplomas than those with university-level education. A significant relationship was found between age and self-care behaviors (P=0.030), with older patients reporting lower self-care scores. The Kruskal–Wallis test also showed a significant association between education level and self-care behavior (P=0.040), with higher scores among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Therefore, greater emphasis on therapeutic and nursing care is crucial to improve self-care practices, especially self-management, in this population. This underscores the growing importance of patient education in the post-CABG context.