Self-care ability based on Orem's theory in individuals with coronary artery disease

According to Orem’s definition, self care involves those learned behaviors that individuals perform in order to preserve or promote their life, health, well being and prevention or treatment of their disease. Self care can play an effective role in the management of individuals with chronic diseases including coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the self-care ability and the relationship between self-care ability and some variables in individuals with coronary artery disease. In this analytical- descriptive study, 307 individuals, 40 or older with coronary artery disease, referred to the military 502 hospital of Tehran between July and November in 2009, were selected through a goal-oriented or purposive sampling method. The data was collected through an interview by using the “self-care ability practice” and a “basic conditioning factors “questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14 software and descriptive statistical methods and one-way ANOVA. The self- care ability mean was 59.13 ±12.62. Factors including sex, age, occupation, education and income level had not a significant relationship with self-care ability (p>0.05). Self-care ability of individuals with arterial coronary disorders is in moderate level and self-care ability and health are not affected by basic conditioning factors (socio demographic).