Knowledge,Attitudes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Danish Adults

Abstract

A community cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme was undertaken in 1989 in a Danish County (Vejle). A random sample of 5192 adults were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in relation to CVD risk factors. The response rate was 56%. The questionnaire produced baseline data for programme planning and measuring the success of on-going interventions. Smoking, overweight, and unhealthy food habits were the most prevalent CVD risk factors.

A CVD risk score was calculated from the data on smoking, food habits, exercise, stress, overweight, self-reported presence of hypertension, diabetes, and gender. A high score was commoner in men, in the least educated, in groups who judged their own risk as high, and in groups with negative health beliefs. The level of knowledge about CVD risk factors was high in general. Low knowledge was commonest in the youngest age group, in the least educated, in unskilled workers, and in groups with negative health beliefs. As social position and personality factors seem to play an important role in actions people may take in prevention of CVD, they should be considered in the planning of the health promotion activities in Vejle.

Keywords

Community health promotion cardiovascular risk factors health behaviour attitudes knowledge

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. [The development of health conditions in the 80s. Some health challenges for the 90s]. Udviklingen i sundhedstilstanden i 80-erne. Nogle sundhedsmæssige udfordringer for 90-erne. Copenhagen, DICE, 1989.

2. [The governements Programme for prevention]. Regeringens forebyggelsesprogram. Ministry of Health. Copenhagen 1989.

3. Maccoby N , Farquhar JW , Wood PD , Alexander J . Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease: effect of a community-based campaign on knowledge and behaviour. J Community Health 1977; 3: 100–13.

4. Puska P , Nissinen A , Tuomilehto J , Salonen JT , Koskela K McAlister A et al. The community-based strategy to prevent coronary disease: Conclusion from the ten years of the North Karelia Project. Ann Rev Public Health 1985; 6: 147–93.

5. Smail S , Parish J . Heart Beat Wales; a Community Programme. Practitioner 1989; 233: 4433–7.

6. Jacobs DR , Luepker RV , Mittelmark M B , Folsom AR , Pirie PI , Mascioli SR et al. Community-wide prevention strategies evaluation design of the Minnesota heart health programme. J Chron Dis 1986; 39: 775–88.

7. Farquhar JN , Fortmann SP , Flora JA , Taylor CB , Haskell W , Williams PL et al. Effects of Communitywide Education on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors. The Stanford Five-City Project. JAMA 1990; 264: 359–65.

8. [Prevention of cardiovascular diseases]. Forebyggelse af hjerte-karsygdomme. The Central Preventive Council/The Danish Heart Foundation. Copenhagen 1988.

9. Rasmussen NK. [Nordic Health and Morbidity Studies]. Nordiske helbreds- og sygelighedsundersøgelser. Nordic Minister Council 1984.

10.

10. Osler M, Rasmussen NK, Lous J. [Prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the county of Vejle]. En undersøgelse af borgernes forebyggelse af hjerte-karsygdomme i Vejle Amt 1989. The Heart Project, Vejle and DICE 1990.

11.

11. Anggaard EE , Land JM , Lenihan CHJ . Prevention of cardiovascular disease in general practice: a proposed model. Br Med J 1986; 293: 177–80.

12.

12. Gerdes LU , Bak AM , Færgeman O . [Comparison of results of simple evaluations of risk of ischaemic heart disease with calculations based on a mulitplicative model]. Sammenligning af resultater fra enkle vurderinger af risiko for iskæmisk hjertesygdom med beregninger baseret på en multiplikativ model. Ugeskr Læger 1990; 152: 1744–6.

13.

13. Hansen HS, Holt P. [Non-responder problems in epidemiological studies]. Bortfaldproblemer i epidemiologiske undersøgelser. The Laboratory for Public Health and Health Economic Research. University of Odense 1982.

14.

14. Aarø LE. Health behaviour and socioeconomic status. A health survey among the adult population in Norway. Thesis. University of Bergen 1986.

15.

15. Lefevbre RC , Flora JA . Social marketing and public health intervention. Health Educ Q 1988; 15: 299–315.

16.

16. Sjøl A , Schroll M . [The cardiovascular risk profile in the Glostrup region: Monica screening II]. Kardiovaskulær risikofaktor profil i Glostrupområdet: Monica screening II. Ugeskr Læger 1990; 152: 3449–55.

17.

17. Schnohr P , Appleyard M , Jensen G , Hansen AT . Decrease in the cardiac mortality and alternation of the risk-factor level. The Copenhagen City heart Study. Ugeskr Læger 1990; 152: 1296–8.

18.

18. Møller L , Søndergaard T , Hollnagel H . Social class and cardiovascular risk factors in Danish men. Scand J Soc Med 1991; 19: 116–26.

19.

19. Kirchhoff M. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Social and psychosocial differences in risk-factors. Glostrup Population Studies. PhD-thesis 1986.

20.

20. Kristensen TS . Social status and cardiovascular disease. I. Review of empirical investigations. Ugeskr Læger 1985; 147: 3423–8.

21.

21. Marmot MG , Shipley MJ , Rose G . Inequalities in death specific explanation of a general pattern. Lancet 1984; I: 1003–6.

22.

22. Lui K , Stampler J , Green S , Moss D , Trevisan M . Relationship of education to major risk factors and death from coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease and all causes. Circulation 1982; 66: 1308–14.

23.

23. Rakowski W , Lefevbre RC , Assaf TH , Lasater TM , Carleton RA . Health practice correlates in three adult age groups: Results from two community surveys. Public Health Rep 1990; 105: 481–91.

24.

24. Millar WJ , Wigl DT . Socioeconomic disparities in risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Can Med Assoc J 1986; 134: 127–32.

25.

25. Jacobsen BK , Thelle D . Risk factors for coronary heart disease and level of education. Am J Epidemiol 1988; 127: 923–32.

26.

26. Aro S , Räsanänen L , Telama R . Social class and changes in health-related habits in Finland in 1973–1983. Scand J Soc Med 1986: 14: 39–47.

27.

27. Krick JP , Sobal J . Relationship between health protective behaviours. J Community Health 1990; 15: 19–33.