Objective: Patients who have had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are less likely than other coronary heart disease patients to make lifestyle changes. It has been suggested that PCI patients are less motivated due to their lower perceptions of threat. This study used an extended protection motivation theory (PMTplus) model to predict behaviour change after PCI.
Methods: Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 216 consecutive PCI patients shortly after hospital discharge and again six months later. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, diagnostic group (AMI/USA/SA), cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance, health behaviours (walking and saturated fat intake) and PMTplus measures (threat and coping appraisals and distress regarding a future event). Two separate, four step hierarchical regression analyses were performed using PMTplus measures to predict change in walking and saturated fat intake.
Results: The PMTplus walking model explained 23% of the variance. Increased walking was predicted by younger age, self efficacy and distress. As self-efficacy increased, so did walking. Conversely, as distress increased, walking decreased. The PMTplus dietary model explained 17% of the variance. Change in saturated fat intake was predicted by vulnerability and distress. As vulnerability increased, so did saturated fat intake. Conversely, as distress regarding a future event increased, patients’ fat intake decreased. Changes were mostly independent of CR attendance and diagnostic group. Increased levels of threat did not predict improved health behaviours.
Conclusions: PCI patients undergo considerable changes after their event. Speculations regarding the importance of threat perception were not supported.