Key result
Qualitative analysis identifies four key themes shaping heart failure self-care management.
Why the study?
Many heart failure patients struggle to adhere to self-care behaviors due to a complex mix of personal, cultural, and systemic factors in Saudi Arabia.
Observational (n=24)
No
Self-care behaviors among heart failure patients in Saudi Arabia are heavily influenced by a combination of internal motivation, spiritual practices, struggles with adaptation, medication side-effects, and significant familial caregiving responsibilities.
May inform culturally sensitive HF self-care counseling; extends themes to Saudi settings but leaves open prospective validation.
Background: Effective self-care is vital for improving health outcomes and quality of life in managing heart failure. However, many patients struggle to adhere to self-care behaviors, often due to a complex mix of personal, cultural, and systemic factors. This study aimed to explore the views of patients with heart failure (HF) on factors influencing self-care management. Methods: A qualitative approach explored patients' experiences with heart failure. Purposive sampling recruited 24 patients at a Saudi tertiary centre from May 2024 to May 2025. Semi-structured interview data were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis, including (1) internal motivation driven by personal factors, (2) self-adaptation to new diagnosis and adherence issues, (3) conflicts, (4) role, and responsibility. Conclusion: This study offers insights into self-care management of heart failure among HF patients in Saudi Arabia. It examines factors like culture, habits, beliefs, psychological issues, comorbidities, conflicts, and social values. Most HF participants were motivated to adhere to treatment, resilience, and adaptability to living with heart failure. About half of the participants in this study reported non-compliance. Few had poor self-care, depression, and psychological distress. Some prioritise family over self-care and have difficulty adhering to medication regimens, follow-up, and routines, especially caregivers to their parents. Most participants reported having no dietary restrictions, yet most were fully aware of the discharge counselling. Future research in Saudi Arabia, focusing on HF self-care or a framework that incorporates Saudi culture, is also warranted.
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Mahno et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Heart failure (n=24). Factors influencing self-care management was evaluated on Patient views and experiences on factors influencing self-care management (qualitative thematic analysis). Qualitative analysis of heart failure patients identified four main themes influencing self-care management: internal motivation, self-adaptation to new diagnosis, conflicts, and roles and responsibilities.
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