Do Patients Seek Women-Centered Cardiac Care? Patient Experience of an All-Female Multidisciplinary Heart Center for Women

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease in women is frequently under-diagnosed and under-treated. Numerous heart centers for women have opened throughout the world to address these disparities; however, there is a paucity of data regarding participants’ perspectives. The current study assesses motivation to participate and perceived benefits in attending a heart center for women (HCW) in Jerusalem, Israel. METHODS: This study utilized qualitative methods to assess patients’ motivation and perceived benefits to attending a women’s heart center, particularly as they relate to gender medicine and single-sex staffing. A random sample of 42 clinic patients were asked to participate in interviews. Inclusionary criteria consisted of previous cardiovascular event, active cardiac symptom or three or more cardiovascular disease risk factors. Exclusionary criteria consisted of pregnancy, type 1 diabetes requiring insulin, psychiatric diagnosis that precluded participation, dementia, or other multidisciplinary clinic participation. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s methodology of thematic analysis. RESULTS: The single-sex and gender medicine aspects did not motivate women to attend the HCW, although some participants perceived this as beneficial in retrospect. Women reported that the clinic visit enhanced their knowledge and awareness of issues related to heart disease in women as well as personal health benefits. They reported benefitting from the holistic approach, consideration of their lifestyle, the staff’s expression of concern, personalized attention, common language, and feeling understood. CONCLUSION: This study describes the patient experience in an all-female HCW, highlighting their motivation for attendance and perceived benefits. While they did not actively seek women-centered care, women reported educational and care provision benefits to their attendance. The care attributes that women identified as beneficial typify the person-centered approach to care. These findings may inform both the design and evaluation of medical care facilities that aim to address the sex and gender disparities in cardiology as well as other medical specialties.