Do Congenital Heart Disease Patients Need Gender-Sensitive Care?

Background: Congenital heart disease is a collection of birth defects that adversely impact the normal functioning of the heart. This disease is the most common birth complication. The main aim of this study is to examine whether congenital heart disease patients require gender-sensitive care. Methods: The researcher adopted the suggestions of the research onion to decide on the design to use. The research approach used was qualitative and it involved conducting structured interviews among congenital heart disease patients and practitioners. The approach of data analysis was thematic analysis. Results: Twenty individuals engaged in the study, where twelve were patients and eight were medical practitioners. Out of the twenty participants, male respondents were eleven, while females were nine. The results revealed that both male and female patients required gender-sensitive care when managing congenital heart defects. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease patients require gender-sensitive care due to the differences in the occurrence and severity of the disease between men and women. The results acquired via this study signify that the application of gender-sensitive care in the management of congenital heart disease is rare due to the minimal amount of supporting literature.