Magnitude of change in cardiac health-enhancing behaviours 6 months following an acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
The adoption of health-enhancing behaviours is essential to reduce the likelihood of recurrent coronary events.


OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the magnitude of health behaviour change 6 months following a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and examined differences between cardiac rehabilitation attendees and non-attendees.


METHODS
One hundred and six first AMI patients (males n=76, Australian-born n=71) participated in a 6-month follow-up of a descriptive longitudinal survey. Data on non-smoking behaviour, weight normalisation, adequate physical activity, low dietary fat intake, medication adherence and cardiac rehabilitation attendance were collected. The magnitude of change in health-enhancing behaviours from baseline to follow-up was calculated.


RESULTS
Whilst there was an overall increase in health-enhancing behaviours at the 6-month follow-up (P<0.001), nonsmoking behaviour, low dietary fat intake and medication adherence were more likely to be achieved than adequate physical activity and weight normalisation. Attendees at cardiac rehabilitation were more likely to report positive lifestyle change (P=0.001) and feeling healthier (P=0.040) than non-attendees.


CONCLUSIONS
The wide variation in the adoption of health-enhancing behaviours at the 6-month follow-up suggested that participants were selective about which behaviours they changed. Cardiac rehabilitation personnel need to emphasise the importance of undertaking all health-enhancing behaviours in order to maximise their multiplicative benefits.
Salamonson
Yenna
Y
School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown Campus, Building 7, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith DC, New South Wales 1797, Australia. y.salamonson@uws.edu.au
Everett
Bronwyn
B
Davidson
Patricia
P
Andrew
Sharon
S
D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010343:Patient Admission; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires