Relationship between patient group participation and self-care agency among patients with a history of cardiac surgery: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the influence of participation in patient groups on self-care in patients with a cardiac surgery history.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between patient group participation and self-care among patients with a cardiac surgery history.

METHODS: Participants were 956 patients with cardiac surgery history from a patient group. Information on self-care agency, patient group participation, and health status was collected through a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS: There were 566 valid responses. Participants were mostly male (76.4%), and the mean age was 70.6 years. A high social support level from a patient group was associated with each subscale of the self-care agency as follows: self-care operations (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.12), adjusting one's condition (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), and attention to self-care (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07).

CONCLUSIONS: Patient group participation may promote self-care performance in patients with a cardiac surgery history.