Austrian Heart Association and WHO Self-Care Guidelines. A qualitative study.

Abstract

Background and Aim: In its 2022 revision of self-care guidelines, the World Health Organization underlines the irreplaceable function of high-quality self-care and emphasises that not only research into self-care, but also the development of self-care-specific research methods have to be intensified. Accordingly, improvement of translational cardiological self-care is a key challenge faced by the Austrian Heart Association (Österreichischer Herzverband = ÖHV), which has been dedicated to life-long/long-term rehabilitation and health promotion of heart patients for more than 40 years. In line with the WHO call for self-care specific research, a study to identify related characteristics and desiderates was carried out with 30 regional managers at the ÖHV federal state conference [ÖHV Bundesländertagung] in 2023. Methods: Through Mayring's method of qualitative content analysis, raw data were regrouped into categories and frequencies/weights identified. Results: Well-known benefits such as social inclusion, empathetic communication, mutual support, health sports and information were distinguished in a future-oriented manner, e.g., with regard to expansion of sports disciplines alongside more transparent adjustment to individual cardiorespiratory conditions. Conclusion: Health policymakers are called to recognise the benefits of cardiac self-care and -  according to WHO suggestions - improve its integration within national health systems, standardised financial support included.