Self-Care Activities by Patients with Chronic Cardiovascular Morbidities: Explanatory Sequential Facility-Based Mixed Method Study in West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic cardiovascular morbidities are major public health concern. The objective was to as-sess awareness and practice of selfcare activities among patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity in Burdwan Medical College (BMC) and to explore constraints in selfcare practice. Materials & Methods: A facility-based, explanatory sequential, mixed-method study was conducted in Cardi-ology super-specialty outpatient department of BMC, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 185 patients with chronic cardiovascular morbidity were selected randomly; interviewed with predesigned, pretested schedule (adapted from H-SCALE) for quantitative component. For qualitative component, eight study participants, se-lected purposively, were interviewed with In-depth-interview guide. Multivariable logistic regression was done to find out predictors of selfcare practice. Thematic inductive analysis was done to explore constraints. Results: 73% study participants were aware about overall selfcare practices; 43.8% performed satisfactory overall selfcare practice. Below secondary level educational status [AOR0.412, 95% CI (0.178-0.956)] and lower & lower-middle socioeconomic status [AOR0.063, 95% CI (0.017-0.230)] were found to create negative influence on favourable self-care practice. Thematic analysis revealed false belief, lack of motivation, lack of proper knowledge, emotional disturbances and Covid-19 pandemic impact as major constraints in selfcare practice. Conclusion: Selfcare awareness & practice both are low. Interventions are needed to ensure healthy lifestyle of patients.