Sociocultural Considerations in Heart Failure Self-Care Readiness: A Thematic Analysis

Culture is an important factor in HFSC readiness. Cultural dietary practices, in some cases, contradicted current HF dietary recommendations. Sociocultural gender roles, responsibilities, and societal expectations of men contributed to feelings of grief and loss over their inability to work and fulfill their roles as financial providers and heads of household. Spiritual and religious beliefs affected one's readiness to understand, accept, and commit to performing HFSC behaviors. Culture influences commitment and capacity and must be assessed in people with HF to address their readiness to engage in HFSC.