P160 Poster Awareness, risk perception and behavioural intention in patients with a myocardial infarction

Abstract

Introduction: Background: There is limited research on the association of awareness and risk perception of cardiovascular risk factors with behavioural intention to adhere to lifestyle targets related to risk factors such as smoking, abdominal obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol intake and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. The association of all risk factors concurrently and in patients who had a myocardial infarction less than one month ago has not been previously investigated. Objective: To describe the association of awareness and risk perception of cardiovascular risk factors with behavioural intention in respect to aforementioned lifestyle targets in patients within one month of hospitalization for a myocardial infarction. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, 31 patients with a recent diagnosis of a myocardial infarction were included. Awareness, risk perception and behavioural intention were measured with a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using linear regression in which behavioural intention was divided into: risk factor not present, low and high intention. Results: The mean score for awareness was 3.9 ± 1.5 (scale range from 0 to 14) and for risk perception -0.7 ± 1.4 (scale range from -3 to +3). Awareness and risk perception of cardiovascular risk factors were not associated with behavioural intention in smoking, overweight, physical inactivity and insufficient intake of fruit and vegetables. Conclusion: Patients with a myocardial infarction less than one month ago have a low awareness and low risk perception of cardiovascular risk factors and this is not associated with behavioural intention to adhere to lifestyle targets related to risk factors.