Ambivalence related to potential lifestyle changes following preventive cardiovascular consultations in general practice: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Motivational interviewing approaches are currently recommended in primary prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general practice in Denmark, based on an empirical and multidisciplinary body of scientific knowledge about the importance of motivation for successful lifestyle change among patients at risk of lifestyle related diseases. This study aimed to explore and describe motivational aspects related to potential lifestyle changes among patients at increased risk of CVD following preventive consultations in general practice.


METHODS
Individual interviews with 12 patients at increased risk of CVD within 2 weeks after the consultation. Grounded theory was used in the analysis.


RESULTS
Ambivalence related to potential lifestyle changes was the core motivational aspect in the interviews, even though the patients rarely verbalised this experience during the consultations. The patients experienced ambivalence in the form of conflicting feelings about lifestyle change. Analysis showed that these feelings interacted with their reflections in a concurrent process. Analysis generated a typology of five different ambivalence sub-types: perception, demand, information, priority and treatment ambivalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambivalence was a common experience in relation to motivation among patients at increased risk of CVD. Five different ambivalence sub-types were found, which clinicians may use to explore and resolve ambivalence in trying to aid patients to adopt lifestyle changes. Future research is needed to explore whether motivational interviewing and other cognitive approaches can be enhanced by exploring ambivalence in more depth, to ensure that lifestyle changes are made and sustained. Further studies with a wider range of patient characteristics are required to investigate the generalisability of the results.
Kehler
Dea
D
The Research Unit and Department of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. dk@alm.au.dk
Christensen
Bo
B
Lauritzen
Torsten
T
Christensen
Morten Bondo
MB
Edwards
Adrian
A
Risør
Mette Bech
MB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors
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