The goal of this observational study is to understand the role of health literacy in shaping the relationship between gender differences, illness identity, and self-efficacy in geriatric patients with cardiac diseases. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does health literacy mediate the relationship between gender, illness identity, and self-efficacy in elderly cardiac patients?

Participants with diagnosed cardiac conditions, will complete online surveys assessing their health literacy, illness identity, and self-efficacy over a one-year period. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) will be used to analyze the relationships among these variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 30 years or older.
• Diagnosed with a cardiac disease (e.g., heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia).
• Able to provide informed consent.
• Sufficient health literacy to complete surveys in the study language.
• Currently under regular medical care for their cardiac condition.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with a cognitive impairment or diagnosis of dementia that could interfere with survey participation.
• Patients with co-morbid terminal illnesses that significantly impact life expectancy (e.g., advanced cancer).

The study population consists of patients aged 30 years and older who have been diagnosed with cardiac diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, or arrhythmias. These individuals are actively receiving regular medical care for their cardiac conditions and are living in the community or non-acute care settings.

The population includes both male and female participants to explore gender differences in illness identity, health literacy, and self-efficacy. Participants are expected to have a baseline level of health literacy sufficient to comprehend and complete the study surveys, as the research focuses on the mediating role of health literacy.