Health beliefs and desire to improve cholesterol levels among patients with hyperlipidemia. Issue 5 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zullig, Leah L.; Sanders, Linda L.; Thomas, Steven; Brown, Jamie N.; Danus, Susanne; McCant, Felicia; Bosworth, Hayden B.
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 99:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 830
• Page End: 835
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Hyperlipidemia -- United States Department of Veterans Affairs -- Health behavior -- Disease susceptibility -- Medication adherence; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.11.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: Elevated total cholesterol is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Approximately 64% ( n = 155) of patients perceived high cholesterol as very serious. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with desire to control cholesterol. Perceived severity was significantly associated with desire to control cholesterol. Abstract: Objective: Because hyperlipidemia is asymptomatic, many veterans affairs (VA) patients may not perceive it seriously. We assessed key Health Belief model concepts to describe patients' cholesterol-related health beliefs and examine associations between patient-level factors and desire to improve cholesterol control. Methods: We used baseline data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial. Eligible patients were receiving care at the Durham VA and had CVD risk-total cholesterol levels >130 mg/dL and/or <80% medication adherence in the previous 12 months. A survey assessed patients' health beliefs about high cholesterol and self-reported medication adherence. Multivariable logistic regression examined whether there was an association between desire to control cholesterol and cholesterol status. Results: Approximately 64% ( n = 155) of patients perceived high cholesterol as 'very serious'. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, patients who perceived high cholesterol as 'very serious' (OR 2. 26, p = 0.032) and/or with high self-efficacy (OR 4.70, p < 0.001) had increased odds of desiring cholesterol control. Conclusion: The factors most significantly associated with desire to improve cholesterol control were perceiving hyperlipidemia as 'very serious and self-efficacy for cholesterol control. Practice implication: Educating patients, with the goal of appropriately increasing their perceived risk of disease, is likely necessary to impact cholesterol control.