title: Disease knowledge, perceived risk, and health behavior engagement among adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Survivors of congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for life-threatening complications as they age. This study aimed to examine the association of knowledge of future health risks, perceived risk, and health behaviors among adolescents and adults with CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  CHD survivors (N = 200, ages 15-39; 23% simple, 44% moderate, 33% complex lesions) completed measures of risk knowledge accuracy and perceived risk for developing complications, and reported physical activity and saturated fat intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHD survivors reported poor risk knowledge and consuming high-fat diets. Adolescents reported more physical activity than young adults. Greater risk knowledge was associated with lower fat intake, and participants who exercised more expected fewer future complications, and this difference remained statistically significant when accounting for education and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHD survivors, regardless of age, have poor risk knowledge and diets. Survivors may benefit from emphasis on future health risks and health behaviors from both pediatric and adult providers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biobehavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: jamie.jackson2@nationwidechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Center for Biobehavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Ohio Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, The Heart Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Curt J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Center for Biobehavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vannatta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Congenital heart disease; Diet; Disease knowledge; Perceived risk; Physical activity