Health beliefs and desire to improve cholesterol levels among patients with hyperlipidemia

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.

Patient-Reported Reasons for Switching or Discontinuing Statin Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study Using Social Media

“…For instance, reasons for drug discontinuations are rarely available in pharmacy data or primary care prescribing data, and if present, are often in narrative form [ 21 , 22 ]. Reasons for non-adherence and persistence to statins have been explored using cross-sectional surveys [ 10 , 17 , 19 , 23 – 32 ], with occasional qualitative approaches undertaken [ 33 , 34 ], or examination of electronic health records [ 21 ].…”

High Self-Efficacy Is Associated with Prescription Contraceptive Use

“…As applied to specific health behaviors, self-efficacy is viewed as modifiable based on experiences and behavior change interventions. Studies have correlated self-efficacy with specific health-related behaviors, such as chronic disease management, smoking cessation, diet, and exercise (Bello, Lapin, Poston, Hirshfeld, & Hosack, 2016; Hagger et al, 2016; Nezami et al, 2016; Zullig et al, 2016). Studies have also demonstrated that interventions can be effective in modifying self-efficacy for specific health-related behaviors and in improving those health behaviors (Burke et al, 2015; Sheeran et al, 2016).…”

Patient Reported Reasons for Switching or Discontinuing Statin Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study Using Social Media

“…For instance, reasons for drug discontinuations are rarely available in pharmacy data or primary care prescribing data, and if present, are often in narrative form [21,22]. Reasons for non-adherence and persistence to statins have been explored using cross-sectional surveys [10,17,19,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], with occasional qualitative approaches undertaken [33,34], or examination of electronic health records [21].…”