Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This paper identifies common obstacles impeding effective self-management among patients with heart disease and explores how for disadvantaged patients access barriers interfere with typical management challenges to undermine patients' efforts to care for their illnesses.

METHODS:

We convened 33 focus group discussions with heart patients in 10 U.S. communities. Using content analysis, we identified and grouped the most common barriers that emerged in focus group discussions.

RESULTS:

We identified nine major themes reflecting issues related to patients' ability to care for and manage their heart conditions. We grouped the themes into three domains of interest: (1) barriers that interfere with getting necessary services, (2) barriers that impede the monitoring and management of a heart condition on a daily basis, and (3) supports that enable self-management and improve care.

CONCLUSION:

For disadvantaged populations, typical problems associated with self-management of a heart condition are aggravated by substantial obstacles to accessing care.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:

Ensuring disadvantaged patients with chronic heart conditions are linked to formal systems of care, such as cardiac rehabilitation programs, could better develop patients' self-management skills, reduce barriers to receiving care and improve the overall health outcomes of these patients.

2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.