Table 1.

Summary of included studies.

Author, year, and country	Main aim	Data collection	Sampling criteria	Sample and gender
Mårtensson et al., (1997) (Sweden) [38]	From a nurses perspective, explore how male patients with CHF conceive their life situation.	One open and semi-structured interview. Time elapse between Dx and interview: 5 patients: 2–6 months 3 patients: 7–12 months 2 patients: 13–18 months 2 patients: 19–24  months.	Male patient's from medical clinic with CHF. Variables on the log list were, age, month/year of diagnosis, NYHA classification, aetiology, education, civil status, occupation.	n = 12 Male
Mårtensson et al., (1998) (Sweden) [39]	From a nurses perspective how female patients with CHF conceive their life situation.	One open, semi-structured interview Time elapse between Dx and interview: 2 patients: 2–6 months; 4 patients; 7–12 months; 3 patients: 13–18 months; 3 patients: 19–24 months.	Female patients from a medical clinic, between ages of 65 and 83 years. Variables on the log list were, age, month/year of diagnosis. NYHA classification, aetiology, education, civil status, and occupation.	n = 12  Female
Rhodes, and Bowles (2002) (USA) [40]	Examine and describe the experience of older women living with NYHA class II HF.	Four semi-structured interviews, <1 hour each.	Female patients between ages of 60–90 years who self-reported they had been Dx by their cardiologist with NYHA stage II HF or identified by health professionals and through presentations at retirement centre's, Caucasian, diagnosed with HF from 2 to 10 years.	n = 5  Female
Allen et al., (2009) (USA) [41]	Explore the lived experience of HF, in middle aged women with NYHA class III.	Audiotape recorded, semi structured telephone interview.	Convenience sample of 4 women screened by case manager at cardiology practice using criteria: female; dx with NYHA class III HF; ≥21 years of age; verbally articulate; willing to participate	n = 4  Female Consecutive women with class III HF were recruited until redundancy in description was obtained.
Gary, (2006) (USA) [42]	Examine the frequency of self-care practices in women with DHF and describe the demographic and clinical characteristics that affect self-care practices in women with DHF.	2 hr audio taped, semi structured interview guide by telephone or face to face interview.	Convenience sample of 32 women Dx diastolic HF, NYHA Class II-III >50 years of age at a large health science center recruited by a cardiologist from a study comparing combined walking and education program and an education program only. MMSE >25, on optimal pharmacologic HF therapy.	n = 32  Female
Riegel, et al., (2010) (Australia) [43]	Describe HF self-care in men and women and identify gender-specific barriers and facilitators influencing HF self-care.	Cross-sectional, comparative mixed methods study quantitative survey and qualitative semi structured narrative audio taped and transcribed interview, either face to face or telephone.	A 2008 cross-sectional, comparative mixed methods study was reviewed for in-depth interviews eliciting self-care behaviors and exploring barriers and facilitators of self-care. From this study a purposive sample of English speaking NYHA Class II/III HF of ≥6 months with a MMSE score of >24.	Mixed n = 19 (70% Male) n = 8 (30% Female)

NYHA: New York heart association; HF: heart failure; CHF: congestive heart failure; Dx: Diagnosis; SD: standard deviation; MMSE: mini mental status exam.