Individuals' responses to global CHD risk: a focus group study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore how individuals respond to global coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and use it in combination with treatment information to make decisions to initiate and maintain risk reducing strategies.


METHODS
We conducted four focus groups of individuals at risk for CHD (n=29), purposively sampling individuals with each of several risk factors. Two reviewers coded verbatim transcripts and arbitrated differences, using ATLAS.ti 5.2 to facilitate analysis.


RESULTS
Participants generally regarded the concept of global CHD risk as useful and motivating, although had questions about its precision and comprehensiveness. They identified several additional influential factors in decision-making (e.g. achievable risk, the quickness and self-evidence of results) and generally preferred lifestyle changes to medications (although most would accept medications under certain circumstances). They also noted the importance of participating in decision-making.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results underscore the motivating potential of global CHD risk and the importance of patient participation in decision-making.


CONCLUSIONS
Global CHD risk is a useful adjunct to CHD prevention and can be presented in ways, and with information, that might improve CHD outcomes.
Sheridan
Stacey L
SL
Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7110, USA. rolf.wynn@gmail.com
Behrend
Lindy
L
Vu
Maihan B
MB
Meier
Andrea
A
Griffith
Jennifer M
JM
Pignone
Michael P
MP
D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003657:Decision Making; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D014943:Global Health; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology