Health promotion behaviors in women with chest pain

We sought to determine health promotion behavior (HPB) in women with chest pain (CP), and to explore the best predictors of HPB.

The sample included 39 women without previous coronary heart disease (CHD), between ages 30 and 65 years, who were admitted with low-risk or intermediate-risk CP. The Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II, the CHD Knowledge Tool for Women, and the Benefits and Barriers Scales were used to measure HPB, CHD knowledge, benefits, and barriers to risk modification for the study.

Women had low HPB scores (X¯ = 127.3 ± 23.5). The best predictors for HPB (adjusted R(2) = .44) included educational level (β = .34, P = .010), hyperlipidemia (β = -.25, P = .05), benefits (β = .33, P = .017), and barriers to risk modification (β = -.41, P = .004).

Women do not practice HPB regularly. Women with less education, hyperlipidemia, lower perceived benefits, or higher perceived barriers to risk modification are less likely to practice HPB. Barriers exert the strongest influence on HPB.