The Disease Self-Management Among Patients With Chronic Heart Failure in an Affluent Economy: A Grounded Theory Study.
Kakit Lam, Aimei Mao
PMID 41063369WHAT IT FOUND
Patients in Macau managed heart failure by leaning on family and accessible social services to maintain control over their lives.
They adjusted diets and medications, but emotional regulation and family cooperation were central to their daily coping strategies.
Key findings
01Patients viewed self-management as a way to reclaim dominance over their lives rather than letting the disease define them.
02Family members actively adjusted their own lifestyles, such as eating separately to accommodate the patient's low-sodium diet.
03Accessible social services, including free medical care for those over 65 and home visits, were critical for patients living alone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 patients from a single hospital, which limits how far the findings can be applied to other populations. Most participants had moderate heart failure (NYHA Class II), so the experiences of those with severe or end-stage disease are underrepresented. Data was collected through a single interview, relying on patients' recall of past experiences rather than observing their daily management over time. The context of Macau, with its specific cultural and healthcare infrastructure, may not apply to regions with different social support systems or family structures.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients in other regions have the same level of family or social support available. The success of self-management in this study was heavily dependent on Macau's specific healthcare resources and cultural family structures, which may not exist elsewhere.