Stroke knowledge and health-promoting behaviors: Mediating effect of patient self-esteem.

Abstract

To investigate the levels of and associations between stroke knowledge, self-esteem, and health-promoting behavior (HPB) among stroke patients, and examine the mediating effect of self-esteem in the stroke knowledge-HPB relationship. This descriptive correlational study involved a total of 150 stroke patients. We collected data through questionnaires during outpatient visits at two Korean secondary hospitals, inquiring about general and disease-related characteristics, stroke knowledge, self-esteem, and HPB. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed. Stroke knowledge significantly increased patients' self-esteem (β = .53, p = .001) and HPB (β = 1.64, p < .001). Self-esteem mediated the relationship between stroke knowledge and HPB, with the mediating effect coefficient determined to be 1.68 [95 % CI (0.56,-2.46)]. Education and intervention programs that increase both self-esteem and stroke knowledge need to be developed and evaluated such that stroke patients are motivated to engage in HPB. Stroke patients are often physically and mentally impaired, and low self-esteem can be a barrier to engaging in HPB after diagnosis, negatively affecting their health outcomes. Nursing interventions focused on enhancing self-esteem can empower these patients to effectively engage in HPB. Healthcare professionals should adequately communicate and impart disease-related knowledge to patients with poor disease-related knowledge or education.