Health Behaviour Following Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

The elimination of modifiable lifestyle risk factors for ischaemic heart disease is a major component of rehabilitation following myocardial infarction. Unfortunately the success of education programs to modify health behaviour of these patients is poor. This study investigated the extent to which self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977a; 1986), health threat beliefs (Janz & Becker, 1984), multidimensional cardiac health locus of control (Wallston Wallston & DeVellis, 1976), psychological health (Goldberg, 1977) and distress as a result of thoughts and real-life experiences (Dua, 1990) predicted self-reports of health related behaviour following myocardial infarction. The relationships between these variables and their stability over time were also studied. Sixty three men admitted to the coronary care unit of a major public teaching hospital following an uncomplicated myocardial infarction completed all requirements of the study. While hospitalised all the men received information about desirable health behaviour, such as quitting smoking, exercise and diet, designed to decrease risk of further heart disease. Their self-efficacy beliefs, health threat beliefs, cardiac health locus of control beliefs, psychological health and psychological distress were measured prior to discharge and then 3 months and 6 months later. Initially subjects' health behaviour with regard to smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and relaxation prior to their present infarction was also obtained. Approximately 3 months and 6 months later the men were asked to report their current health behaviour using the same categories. Self-efficacy, psychological health and psychological distress predicted self-reported health behaviour. Perceptions of health threat seriousness also predicted self-reported health behaviour but the relationship was inverse; the opposite to that expected. None of the cardiac health locus of control variables predicted self-reported health behaviour 3 months or 6 months after discharge from hospital.