Perceived Health Needs, Social Support, and Depression Among Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality globally. Myocardial infarction (MI), a major type of cardiovascular disease, presents long-term challenges for patients. Recognizing patients' perceived health needs and the factors that influence them is crucial for providing comprehensive care and improving outcomes.

Aim: This paper explores the perceived health needs, levels of depression, and social support among MI patients, as well as investigates the correlations between these factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Salman Specialist Hospital from March to June 2024, enrolling 244 MI patients through convenience sampling. Data collection was performed using the following three validated questionnaires: the Cardiac Patient Learning Needs Inventory (CPLNI) to assess the learning needs of MI patients, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to evaluate depression levels, and the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) to measure social support. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 27.

Results: Patients aged 40 years or older and those who were employed exhibited greater learning needs ( < 0.001). Female patients were more depressed than males ( = 0.008). Higher social support was reported by the female patients, those with a family history of MI, and those who were employed ( = 0.002, 0.002, and 0.003, respectively). The total mean score for perceived learning needs was 3.72, with the highest needs in "other pertinent information", "medication information", and "anatomy and physiology". Depression was indicated in 45.1% of MI patients, with significantly higher depression levels in female than in male patients. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between social support and perceived learning needs (r = 0.205, = 0.001), as well as a negative correlation between social support and depression (r = -0.441, < 0.001).

Conclusions: Addressing both the physical and psychological needs is essential for MI patients. Comprehensive educational programs and mental health support services are necessary for improving outcomes. Personalized patient education and routine depression screenings should be integrated into post-MI care. Future research should examine longitudinal changes in learning needs and mental health status.