Self-reported health beliefs, lifestyle and health behaviours in community-based patients with diabetes and hypertension

OBJECTIVE: This study describes self-reported health and lifestyle behaviours and health risk beliefs among community patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: Patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension were recruited from community family practices across 3 Canadian Maritime provinces. Patients completed a survey targeting health risk beliefs, and health and lifestyle behaviours. Analyses examined differences in patient beliefs by age and sex, as well by health and lifestyle behaviour. RESULTS: Overall, 90.8% of patients believed that controlling both blood pressure and blood glucose were important, particularly women (p<0.01), and 92.8% felt that having both conditions put them at high risk for cardiovascular problems. Older patients reported higher antihypertensive medication adherence (p<0.0001). Most (90.8%) believed that prescription drug use was most helpful for controlling blood pressure, and this belief was associated with medication adherence (p<0.0001). Overall, patients who believed in the benefits of a given lifestyle behaviour were more likely to demonstrate the behaviour. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients surveyed were knowledgeable about their increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Patient lifestyle behaviours tended to mirror their health beliefs. These results provide important insight into the health beliefs and lifestyle behaviours of patients who receive the majority of their care in the community.