Understanding the barriers to lifestyle change in the SPHERE study
type: CreativeWork
description: Background Interventions designed for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, which include a lifestyle of regular physical activity and a healthy diet, are known to improve life expectancy. However, adherence to recommended lifestyle changes is difficult for many patients. The aim of this thesis was to explore lifestyle change interventions in patients with cardiovascular disease and ways of improving their effectiveness. Methods To investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, a systematic review was performed. Three databases were searched and the effect of interventions on mortality, morbidity, non-fatal events and lifestyle risk factors was investigated. Meta analyses of results were performed. The problem of adherence to healthy lifestyles was investigated in detail in one such intervention. A sample of patients who took part in the SPHERE Study, from practices in Belfast, Dublin and Galway, was selected and semi structured interviews conducted. Interviews were analysed qualitatively and themes relating to barriers and facilitators to lifestyle change were sought. The findings of this qualitative study were used to design a shared decision making tool, the aim of which was to motivate patients to consider making lifestyle changes. Based on barriers and facilitators found in the previous study, questions were designed and the tool was tested in a feasibility study among 12 patients from two purposively selected practices. Results The systematic review demonstrated that interventions have significant benefits in terms of total and cardiac mortality, and in relation to lifestyle behaviour change. A wide range of barriers and facilitators affecting lifestyle change was presented in the qualitative study. Novel barriers included the strong negative influence of social networks, linked to cultural norms and others' lack of perception of the adverse impact on change of presents of chocolat…
abstract: Background Interventions designed for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, which include a lifestyle of regular physical activity and a healthy diet, are known to improve life expectancy. However, adherence to recommended lifestyle changes is difficult for many patients. The aim of this thesis was to explore lifestyle change interventions in patients with cardiovascular disease and ways of improving their effectiveness. Methods To investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, a systematic review was performed. Three databases were searched and the effect of interventions on mortality, morbidity, non-fatal events and lifestyle risk factors was investigated. Meta analyses of results were performed. The problem of adherence to healthy lifestyles was investigated in detail in one such intervention. A sample of patients who took part in the SPHERE Study, from practices in Belfast, Dublin and Galway, was selected and semi structured interviews conducted. Interviews were analysed qualitatively and themes relating to barriers and facilitators to lifestyle change were sought. The findings of this qualitative study were used to design a shared decision making tool, the aim of which was to motivate patients to consider making lifestyle changes. Based on barriers and facilitators found in the previous study, questions were designed and the tool was tested in a feasibility study among 12 patients from two purposively selected practices. Results The systematic review demonstrated that interventions have significant benefits in terms of total and cardiac mortality, and in relation to lifestyle behaviour change. A wide range of barriers and facilitators affecting lifestyle change was presented in the qualitative study. Novel barriers included the strong negative influence of social networks, linked to cultural norms and others' lack of perception of the adverse impact on change of presents of chocolat…
author: Cole, Judith
language: eng
date published: 2012-12
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:55:05Z
provider: Queen's University Belfast
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Queen's University Belfast