Key result
Perceived CVD severity is linked to healthier food choices, while perceived susceptibility correlates with poorer choices.
Why the study?
CVD morbidity and mortality in women exceeds all cancers combined yet remains understudied, leading to low awareness among women and healthcare providers.
Cross-Sectional (n=220)
Yes
Effect estimate: 1.26 unit reduction in healthy food choice score per unit increase in perceived severity (95% CI 0.02-2.50)
Higher perceived CVD severity, but not perceived susceptibility, is associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in health-promoting behaviors like healthy eating and physical activity among female nurses.
Perceived CVD severity may relate to healthier eating in nurses; leaves open causality and need for prospective studies.
Significance: Morbidity and mortality related to CVD among women in the U.S. and most developed countries surpasses that of all cancers combined (AHA, 2008). Yet, CVD in women remains understudied, yielding low awareness among women and healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the relationship between health beliefs related to perceived cardiovascular disease (CVD) severity and health promoting behaviors were different in women with high self perception of CVD susceptibility versus women with low self perception of CVD susceptibility. Methods: This study used a descriptive, correlational design. A convenience sample (N = 220) included female registered nurses (RNs), 23-66 years old (M = 48; SD = 9.7), mostly white (N = 143; 65%), who had worked in nursing an average of 21 years (SD = 11.3) and reported their job as stressful/very stressful (N = 129; 59%). Nurses were recruited from five acute care hospital systems in a large southeastern city. Data were collected using standard questionnaires that measured perceived CVD severity and susceptibility, social support, depression, stress, exercise and nutrition. Participants completed data collection via an online survey method. Results: Data were analyzed using MANCOVA. For every standardized unit increase in perceived severity of CVD, participants had a 1.26 (95% CI: 0.02, 2.50) unit reduction in their healthy food choice score (lower scores = healthier food choices), and a 0.12 increase in their physical activity score (higher scores = more physical activity) (90% CI: 0.01, 0.23) unit. For every standardized unit increase in perceived CVD susceptibility there was an increase in the healthy food choice score by 2.37 (95% CI: 1.09, 3.65) units, and a reduction in the physical activity score by 0.27 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.41) unit. Greater age (p = 0.01) and greater depression (p = 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of lower physical activity. CVD susceptibility did not moderate the effect of CVD severity on nutrition or physical activity. Conclusions: Higher perceived CVD severity was associated with increased likelihood for healthy food choices and physical activity. In contrast, higher perceived CVD susceptibility was associated with decreased likelihood for healthy food choices and physical activity. More research is needed to understand how susceptibility beliefs around CVD are formed in women and how to better engage women in risk reduction behavior.
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Deborah McClendon (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease health promoting behaviors (n=220). Perceived CVD severity and susceptibility was evaluated on Healthy food choice score and physical activity score (1.26 unit reduction in healthy food choice score per unit increase in perceived severity, 95% CI 0.02-2.50). Higher perceived CVD severity was associated with healthier food choices (1.26-unit score reduction; 95% CI 0.02-2.50), while higher perceived susceptibility was associated with poorer food choices.
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