Self-assessment by doctors and patients of their adherence to a healthy lifestyle and their readiness to modify behavioral risk factors of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Background. Poor adherence to risk factor behaviors management increases the risk for a further cardiac event. Unfortunately, poor adherence to behaviors recommended in lifestyle interventions is widespread, particularly over the long-term; thus, the “adherence problem” represents a significant challenge to the effectiveness of these interventions Objective: The goal of the trial was the assessment of patient’s and physician’s attitude to a healthy lifestyle and evaluation of their stage of readiness for change in dealing with unhealthy behavior with the goal of cardiovascular disease risk factors modification particularly smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy diet Methods: We performed a poll of 158 patients who visited the outpatient clinic of the State Institution of Sciences “Research and Practical Center of Preventive and Clinical Medicine” State Administrative Department with the purpose of preventive services and of 65 physicians – employees of our clinic – about their adherence to healthy lifestyle habits. As the determination of the readiness to deal with an unhealthy behavior allows making individualized preventive counseling, we used a special questionnaire for standardizing approaches to determining the stage of change of three major behavioral risk factors of cardiovascular diseases – smoking, unhealthy diet, and low level of physical activity. The readiness to change was identified according to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Behavior Change. The results of physicians questionnaire (n=65) were compared to the results of patients questionnaire (n=158). Results. Most of the participants – 87,3±2,6 % of patients and 93,6±3,1 % of physicians – were non-smokers. Only 26,6±3,5 % of patients and 20,6±5,1 % of physicians reported following a healthful diet and only 8,9±2,3% of patients and 20,6±5,1 % of physicians perform regular physical activity. The prevalence of optimal level of physical activity among physicians was significantly higher (p<0,05). 72,5± 6,3 % of physicians were on action stage in the matter of healthy diet and 74±6,2 % – in the matter of physical activity regimen, it was significantly higher (р < 0,05) that among patients – 45,7±4,6 % and 41,0±4,1% respectively. Conclusions: Our findings highlight poor adherence to healthy lifestyle habits among physicians and patients, especially in the matter of healthy eating and optimal level of physical activity, and needs for targeted strategies that improve long-term adherence to health behaviors and enhance physician’s knowledge about lifestyle-based health promotion interventions.

Keywords

• healthy lifestyles, risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, the stage of changes model