Perspectives of Health Care Providers on the Role of Culture in the Self-Care of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Qualitative Interview Study

Adam Jönsson, Emilie Cewers, Tuvia Ben Gal, Jean Marc Weinstein, Anna Strömberg and Tiny Jaarsma
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Adam Jönsson: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Emilie Cewers: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Tuvia Ben Gal: Heart Failure Unit, Cardiology Department, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel
Jean Marc Weinstein: Cardiology Division, Soroka University Medical Centre, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Anna Strömberg: Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Tiny Jaarsma: Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Self-care is important in chronic diseases such as heart failure. The cultural background of health care providers might influence their view on self-care behaviour and education they provide. The aim of this study was to describe health care providers’ perceptions of the role of culture in self-care and how those perceptions shape their experiences and their practices. Methods: A qualitative study was performed in Israel, a country with a culturally diverse population. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 12 healthcare providers from different cultural backgrounds. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Results: Healthcare providers experienced cultural background influenced their patients’ self-care behaviour. Perceived culture-specific barriers to self-care such as dietary traditions interfering with the recommended diet, willingness to undertake self-care and beliefs conflicting with medical treatment were identified. Healthcare providers described that they adapted patient education and care based on the cultural background of the patients. Shared cultural background, awareness and knowledge of differences were described as positively influencing self-care education, while cultural differences could complicate this process. Conclusions: Cultural-specific barriers for self-care were perceived by health care providers and they identified that their own cultural background shapes their experiences and their practices.

Keywords: self-care; intervention; culture; qualitative health care providers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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