ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Kazemi   T. (1 )
Bijari   B. (*)






(*) Community Medicine Department, Medicine Faculty, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
(1 ) “Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Centre” & “Cardiology Department, Medicine Faculty” , Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

Correspondence

Article History

Received:  November  2, 2012
Accepted:  January 21, 2013
ePublished:  April 2, 2014

BRIEF TEXT


Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common death factors [1]. Several factors are involved in cardiovascular disease, , which obesity, low mobility, unhealthy diet, diabetes, dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and stress are controllable [2]. Since awareness and attitude can affect persons’ performance, health service must assess awareness, attitudes, and performance of various groups in society, in order to plan to promote the knowledge and performance of various groups [3].

Various results have been obtained from various studies concerning heart risk factors [4-9]. Studies on women and teachers show that awareness and attitude of the two groups concerning heart risk factors are good, while their performance is weak [4-5]. Awareness and attitudes about heart risk factors are low in some places such as K. S. A. and Malaysia [6-8], but attitudes and performances regarding heart risk factors are high in the USA. [9].

The aim of this study was to investigate awareness, attitude, and performance of the veterans and their wives to the cardiovascular risk factors.

The method is descriptive.

The veterans of Birjand city were studied in 2011

103 persons (including 56 veterans and 47 veterans’ wives) were selected, using non-probability and available sampling method. (9 wives did not participate in the study).

Based on the aims of study, a questionnaire was developed by researcher, and the state questionnaire of prevention plan of non-communicable diseases being used by Birjand Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease Research Center, since 2009. The questionnaire contained 10 questions concerning awareness of the cardiovascular risk factors, 10 questions concerning attitudes towards the risk factors, and 8 questions concerning performance towards the risk factors. Content and external validity of the primary questionnaire were confirmed by 5 faculty members of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Reliability of the questionnaire was obtainedr=0.88, using Cronbach’s alpha method, at the primary conducting step with 30 questionnaires. 10 questions of the “awareness” part contained risk or protection factors to cardiovascular disease. Each question had three items including “yes” (2 scores), “I don’t know” (1 score), and “no” (the zero score). Therefore, the domain of awareness scores varied from zero to 20. Scores more than 16 were considered as “good awareness”, scores between 12 to 16 were considered as “average awareness”, and scores less than 12 were considered as “weak awareness”. The “attitude” part contained 10 questions including “absolutely agree”, “agree”, “no idea”, “disagree”, and “totally disagree” items, scored between 1 to 5 according to the Likert’s method. Therefore, the domain of attitude scores was between 5 and 50. Scores more than 38 were considered as “good attitude”, scores between 26 to 38 were considered as “mean attitude”, and scores less than 26 were considered as “weak attitude”. The “performance” part evaluating “physical activities”, “smoking”, “the oil type for cooking”, and “frequency of the food consumption”. 2 scores were considered for a person with an approximate ideal performance for each item,‏ 1 score was considered for a person with an approximate average performance, and the zero score was considered for a person with an approximate very bad performance . The domain of the performance scores varied from zero to 16. Scores more than 12 were considered as “good performance ”, scores between 8 to 12 were considered as “average performance ”, and scores less than 8 were considered as “weak performance ”. SPSS 15 software was used to data analysis , using Independent-T (in order to compare the average scores of “awareness”, “attitude”, and “ performance” among the veterans and their wives, and in order to compare the average scores of “awareness”, “attitude”, and “performance ” according to the number of children including 3 children or less, and more than 3 children), Analysis of Variance (in order to compare the average scores of “awareness”, “attitude”, and “performance ” according to job, education level, and age groups), and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (in order to determine the correlation between the scores of “awareness”, “attitude”, and “performance ” with each other and the correlation between the scores of “awareness” and “attitude” with each performance factor) tests.

The mean age of all the participants was46.4±7.3. (49.3±6.2, for veterans39.7±12.4. for wives) 56 veterans (23.7%) had chemical injuries. The mean injury percent was 35.8%, with minimum 5%, and maximum 70%. The mean number of children was3.6±1.6, with minimum zero, and maximum 8 children; and maximum 3 children were more frequent. 50.0% of the participants (54.2% of veterans and 48.9% of wives) stated heart attack or strokes as the most important causes of death in Iran. 32.7% of the participants, (30.5% of veterans and 48.9% of wives) did not know the most important cause of death in Iran. The average score of the “awareness” part was17.5±2.9, (the lowest score 6, and the highest score 20). The average score of the “attitude” part was34.2±5.4, (the lowest score 22, and the highest score 47). The average score of the “performance” part was10.2±2.2, (the lowest score 5, and the highest score 15). The awareness of many of the participants was good, and the attitude and performance were mean. There was no significant difference between the average scores of awareness, attitude, and performance among the veterans and their wives. From 10 questions concerning awareness of risk factors, the maximum awareness (96.2%) was related to “overweight and obesity”, and the minimum awareness (51.9%) was related to “aging” factor. 74.5% and 53.8% of the participants were aware of “mean physical activity” and “fish consumption” as protective factors from cardiovascular diseases, respectively. There was no significant correlation between persons’ awareness and age, education level, job, and number of children. There was no significant correlation between persons’ attitude and age, education level, and job. There was a significant correlation between attitude and number of children. Persons with 3 children or less had a better attitude than those with more than 3 children. There was no significant correlation between persons’ performance and age, job, and number of children. There was a significant correlation between operation and education level. The more educated persons had a better performance. There was no significant correlation between the awareness’ score and any operation factor. There were only significant correlations between the attitude’s score and “sport operation” and “smoking” factors. There were no significant correlation between “awareness” and “attitude”, and between “awareness” and “performance”. Correlation between “attitude” and “performance” was significant.

… [10-14] Results of the present study concerning awareness and attitude of the participants are comparable with the results of other studies reporting the average awareness and attitude [15-19]. Results of the present study showed no correlation between awareness and attitude and education level. However, most studies show such a correlation [4, 17-19]. … [20-22]

Non-declared

This descriptive study was limited to the population of the veterans of Birjand city, and cannot be expanded to all the population of veterans. In addition, persons with heart diseases in the studied population were not examined separately, which can affect the obtained scores of awareness and attitude.

Most of the veterans and their wives have good awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors; and most of them have the average awareness of attitude and performance. There is no difference between the scores of “awareness”, “attitude”, and “performance” in the veterans and their wives. There is a correlation between “attitude” and “performance” of the veterans and their wives, concerning cardiovascular diseases risk factors.

Researchers feel grateful to Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs of South Khorasan Province and the personnel of Birjand Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease Research Center.

Non-declared

The research proposal was confirmed in University’s Ethic Committee, and Foundation of Martyrs has been permitted its conduction.

Department of Education and Research of Birjand University of Medical Sciences have funded this research.

TABLES and CHARTS

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CITIATION LINKS

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