Race/Ethnicity and patient confidence to self-manage cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND
Minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of chronic disease, due to higher disease prevalence and greater morbidity and mortality. Recent research has shown that several factors, including confidence to self-manage care, are associated with better health behaviors and outcomes among those with chronic disease.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between minority status and confidence to self-manage cardiovascular disease (CVD).


METHODS
Survey respondents admitted to 10 hospitals participating in the "Expecting Success" program, with a diagnosis of CVD, during January-September 2006 (n = 1107).


RESULTS
Minority race/ethnicity was substantially associated with lower confidence to self-manage CVD, with 36.5% of Hispanic patients, 30.7% of Black patients, and 16.0% of white patients reporting low confidence (P < 0.001). However, in multivariate analysis controlling for socioeconomic status and clinical severity, minority status was not predictive of low confidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there is an association between race/ethnicity and confidence to self-manage care, that relationship is explained by the association of race/ethnicity with socioeconomic status and clinical severity.
Blustein
Jan
J
Department of Health Policy, Wagner Graduate School, New York University, New York, New York, USA. jan.blustein@nyu.edu
Valentine
Melissa
M
Mead
Holly
H
Regenstein
Marsha
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012803:Sick Role; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American