Finkelstein Adi, Leiter Elisheva, Reinfeld Tanya, Levy Ora, Hoss Sara, Sloman Lori, Zwas Donna R
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel.
Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Patient Prefer Adherence. 2022 Jul 25;16:1749-1758. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S363325. eCollection 2022.
Cardiovascular disease in women is frequently under-diagnosed and under-treated. Numerous heart centers for women have opened throughout the world to address these disparities; however, there is a paucity of data regarding participants' perspectives. The current study assesses motivation to participate and perceived benefits in attending a heart center for women (HCW) in Jerusalem, Israel.
This study utilized qualitative methods to assess patients' motivation and perceived benefits to attending a women's heart center, particularly as they relate to gender medicine and single-sex staffing. A random sample of 42 clinic patients were asked to participate in interviews. Inclusionary criteria consisted of previous cardiovascular event, active cardiac symptom or three or more cardiovascular disease risk factors. Exclusionary criteria consisted of pregnancy, type 1 diabetes requiring insulin, psychiatric diagnosis that precluded participation, dementia, or other multidisciplinary clinic participation. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data analysis followed Braun and Clarke's methodology of thematic analysis.
The single-sex and gender medicine aspects did not motivate women to attend the HCW, although some participants perceived this as beneficial in retrospect. Women reported that the clinic visit enhanced their knowledge and awareness of issues related to heart disease in women as well as personal health benefits. They reported benefitting from the holistic approach, consideration of their lifestyle, the staff's expression of concern, personalized attention, common language, and feeling understood.
This study describes the patient experience in an all-female HCW, highlighting their motivation for attendance and perceived benefits. While they did not actively seek women-centered care, women reported educational and care provision benefits to their attendance. The care attributes that women identified as beneficial typify the person-centered approach to care. These findings may inform both the design and evaluation of medical care facilities that aim to address the sex and gender disparities in cardiology as well as other medical specialties.
女性心血管疾病常常诊断不足且治疗不足。世界各地开设了许多女性心脏中心来解决这些差异；然而，关于参与者观点的数据却很匮乏。本研究评估了在以色列耶路撒冷一家女性心脏中心（HCW）就诊的参与动机和感知到的益处。
本研究采用定性方法评估患者前往女性心脏中心就诊的动机和感知到的益处，特别是与性别医学和单性别医护人员配置相关的方面。随机抽取42名门诊患者参与访谈。纳入标准包括既往心血管事件、活动性心脏症状或三个及以上心血管疾病风险因素。排除标准包括怀孕、需要胰岛素治疗的1型糖尿病、妨碍参与的精神疾病诊断、痴呆或其他多学科门诊参与情况。访谈进行录音并逐字转录。定性数据分析采用布劳恩和克拉克的主题分析方法。
单性别和性别医学方面并非女性前往HCW就诊的动机，尽管一些参与者事后认为这是有益的。女性报告称，门诊就诊增强了她们对女性心脏病相关问题的知识和认识，以及对个人健康的益处。她们报告称受益于整体方法、对其生活方式的考虑、工作人员的关切表达、个性化关注、共同语言以及被理解的感觉。
本研究描述了全女性HCW中的患者体验，突出了她们就诊的动机和感知到的益处。虽然她们并非主动寻求以女性为中心的护理，但女性报告称就诊对她们有教育和护理方面的益处。女性认为有益的护理属性体现了以患者为中心的护理方法。这些发现可能为旨在解决心脏病学以及其他医学专科中性别差异的医疗设施的设计和评估提供参考。
