This study investigated the physician's role in proffering appropriate medical advice to aged patients and the patient's role in complying with that advice. Heart disease, which takes a major health toll among the aged but is amenable to risk reduction practices, exemplifies a condition that offers physicians the opportunity to play an important health promotion role. The advice given by physicians to 246 heart patients and their compliance with the advice is the subject of this article. Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of recovering myocardial infarction patients aged 60 and over (n = 204), and a comparison group of patients aged 45-59 (n = 42). The patient cohorts were similar in health and demographic factors. Findings from interviews conducted six weeks after hospital discharge indicated major age differences in cardiac risk reduction advice given by physicians, but no age effects of patient compliance with the medical advice. Neither preinfarction nor postinfarction cardiac health were factors in compliance. Findings suggest that older patients are systematically denied the opportunity for lessening risk of future heart problems by adopting behavioral changes, despite a lack of evidence that aged heart patients will not adhere to medical advice to engage in these changes. Suggestions are given for interventive efforts directed at both physicians and patients.
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