The Effect of a Self-Management Program Combined with Social Support on the Self-Management and Healthy Eating Behaviors among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Unhealthy eating behaviors are one of the major causes of Coronary vascular disease (CVD). The self-management program combined with social support (CIP) was implemented to improve the patients’ self-management ability and maintain their eating behaviors to a healthier standard. The purpose of this study was to compare the scores of self-management and healthy eating behaviors of patients with CVD in the experimental CIP group before and after participation in the CIP. It also compared self-management and healthy eating behavior scores between patients with CVD who entered the CIP with the usual nursing care group. This study was a quasi-experimental approach with 2 groups of pre-and post-tests. The sample size of 50 cases, 25 in each group, was considered for the study. Questionnaires were used to assess the patient’s self-management and healthy eating behavior scores. Descriptive statistics, dependent t-test, and independent t-test were used for the data analysis. The findings revealed that the experimental group showed a significantly (p < 0.05) increased average self-management (46.2 ± 5.6 to 51.1 ± 5.9) and healthy eating behaviors (39.3 ± 5.5 to 48.4 ± 4.0) scores after the program than before. They also had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher self-management and healthy eating behavior scores than the control group (51.1 ± 5.9 vs. 48.9 ± 6.0 and 48.4 ± 4.0 vs. 39.8 ± 7.5, respectively). This program increased the patients’ self-management scores, and consequentially their healthy eating behaviors score also improved.