Awareness of the risk of ischaemic heart disease in people from risk groups in relation

Introduction. The significance of assessing the awareness and health behaviour of the population of risk groups is becoming increasingly
important in order to enhance the effectiveness of preventive actions. This awareness constitutes one of the most significant elements of
planning actions in the field of primary intervention. Effective attempts are made at activating self-assessment of the risk in persons with
asymptomatic ischaemic heart disease with the use of, among others, the internet, and interactive modules making it possible to define one’s
personal risk and to explain the methods of limiting this risk in a clear and approachable way.
The aim of the study. The survey has been undertaken in order to find correspondences between the awareness of the risk of ischaemic
heart disease and health behaviour in a selected group of people.

Material and methods. A diagnostic survey was carried out in the group of 110 people aged 35–55 who took part in the prophylactic
programme concerning circulatory system diseases implemented in two primary healthcare centres in Lublin. The results of the survey were correlated with the results of the SCORE algorithm (the assessment of the global future risk of ischaemic heart disease), by dividing the
surveyed into the ones with confirmed and unconfirmed risk of ischaemic heart disease. The statistical evaluation was made with the use of
the χ² test.

Results. The risk of acquiring ischaemic heart disease does not substantially influence the knowledge on the risk factors of this disease and
behaviour increasing the probability of its incidence (smoking tobacco, unhealthy diet, low physical activity, etc.). A considerably influential
factor in this case is educational level and, in selected elements of behaviour, gender.

Conclusions. The degree of awareness of ischaemic heart disease risk is reflected in health behaviour of the surveyed people. Persons with
a high level of awareness eat healthier, smoke tobacco more rarely, control the value of blood pressure more often, and implement prohealth
medical recommendations more efficiently. However, this observation also pertains to a small group of persons with a confirmed
ischaemic heart disease risk. In the case of the majority of the surveyed, the awareness of health risk does not cause greater health awareness
and more healthy behaviour.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (3): 348–352