HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Respond to This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Oliver-McNeil, S. Articles by Artinian, N. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Oliver-McNeil, S. Articles by Artinian, N. T.

Women’s Perceptions of Personal Cardiovascular Risk and Their Risk-Reducing Behaviors

• Background Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Risk factors include smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Without an understanding of these risk factors, women are poorly prepared to carry out preventive self-care actions to reduce their risk.

• Objectives To describe perceptions of cardiovascular risk factors and risk-reducing behaviors among women with newly diagnosed coronary heart disease.

• Methods A descriptive study was done in a large midwestern suburban hospital. A nonprobability sample of 33 women with coronary heart disease completed a mail questionnaire. Data were collected by using the Coronary Heart Disease Knowledge Test, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and questions developed for the study.

• Results Thirty-three women responded. Mean age was 65.64 years (range, 36–85 years; SD, 11.32 years); mean educational level was 12.67 years (range, 8–18 years; SD, 1.79 years). Most of the respondents could not identify personal cardiovascular risk factors; the risks identified were considerably fewer and differed from those documented in the women’s medical records. Women reported moderate levels of most risk-reducing behaviors and low levels of physical activity.

• Conclusions Women with coronary heart disease may not know what risk factors they have. Women must have their risk factors assessed and should be counseled about those risks.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. McMahan, M. Cathorall, and D. R. Romero Cardiovascular Disease Risk Perception and Knowledge: A Comparison of Hispanic and White College Students in a Hispanic-Serving Institution Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, January 1, 2007; 6(1): 5 - 18. [Abstract] [PDF]