The effect of gender on the illness perception in individuals with heart failure

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of gender on the illness perception in individuals with heart failure.Method: This is a comparative and a descriptive study. The sample group of the study consisted of 115 patients with cardiac failure that are being followed up in the cardiology polyclinic in a university hospital. The data are obtained from the individual diagnosis forms, the Comorbidity Index and the ?Illness Perception Questionnaire?. The analysis of the data has been carried out using the chi-square test and the t-test.Results: The perception of the symptoms has been statistically more significant in women than in men (p<0.05) and consequently, their emotional representation point means are differentially higher (p<0.05). On the other hand, the risk factor point means for men have been statistically higher than the averages for women (p<0.001).Conclusion: In light of these findings, planning of initiatives towards the specific anxieties of male and female patients and the investigation of the effects of these initiatives, the investigation of other variables affecting the illness perception as well as the detailed investigation of the patients in terms of the risk factors are suggested.Key Words: Heart failure, illness perception, nursing, gender and illness perception, heart failure and illness perception.