Multiple health-risk behavior in a chronic disease population: what behaviors do people choose to change?
OBJECTIVE
To determine what health behaviors patients choose to change in response to medical advice when they are given the potential net-present value (reduction in biological age) of modifying a behavior.


METHODS
Baseline data for multiple health-risk behaviors that were recommended for change among 660 coronary angioplasty patients at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill-Cornell Medical Center who were enrolled during 2000--02 in one of two arms of a behavioral intervention trial designed to compare different approaches to communicating health risk (net-present vs. future value) were analyzed using multivariate statistical methods.


RESULTS
Although there was no difference between study arms, knowing the biological-age value of behaviors, stage of change, and the total number of behaviors recommended for change was associated with choosing several behaviors. Notably, stage of change was associated in both groups with strength training (intervention OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.85, 4.30; comparison OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.83, 4.43, p<.0001) and reducing weight (intervention OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.32, 4.67, p=.005; comparison OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.80, 3.31, p=.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with coronary disease are more likely to choose strength training and reducing weight regardless of knowing the biological-age reduction of any given behavior.
Allegrante
John P
JP
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. jpa1@columbia.edu
Peterson
Janey C
JC
Boutin-Foster
Carla
C
Ogedegbe
Gbenga
G
Charlson
Mary E
ME
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010358:Patient Participation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior