Abstract
Aim:
This study aimed to explore and identify the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived social support among Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in mainland China.
Methods:
A descriptive correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 200 Chinese patients with CHD recruited from the cardiac outpatient departments of two university-affiliated hospitals in Xi’an, China. The Chinese Mandarin versions of the Short-form 36-item health survey (CM:SF-36) and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (CM:MOS-SSS) were administered to assess HRQoL and perceived social support.
Results:
The results indicated that Chinese patients with CHD reported a poorer HRQoL and lower social support compared with their Western and Hong Kong counterparts. Multiple regression analyses identified four significant predictors of deteriorated physical health (increasing age, co-morbidity with heart failure or hypertension, and smoking status) and two significant predictors of poor mental health (co-morbidity with heart failure and perceived social support).
Conclusions:
Health status and social support in Chinese people with CHD should be routinely assessed and, where feasible, addressed through appropriate individually tailored interventions.
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