Abstract
Perceptions of coronary heart disease (CHD) influence individual health behavior, which is central to preventing the disease. Not enough is known about the demographic differences in perceptions of CHD among Chinese communities. This study examined these differences in the perceived seriousness and risk of CHD among Hong Kong Chinese. A self-developed questionnaire was administered to a convenient sample (n=236). Significant differences were identified in the perceived seriousness and risk of CHD between younger and older age groups (p<0.001) and groups with lower and higher education levels (p<0.001), but not between genders (p>0.05). Over 50% of participants expressed greater concern about infectious disease than about CHD, while two-thirds to over half of female, older, and less educated participants were more concerned about stroke. This study highlighted populations with lower levels ofCHD perception that need increased public education. The findings have implications for the societal readiness to establishing ongoing public healthcare strategies to increase awareness of CHD.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 366-375 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Psychology, Health and Medicine |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2012 |
Keywords
- coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Hong Kong Chinese
- perceived risk
- perceived seriousness
- perceptions of CHD
- survey
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Applied Psychology
- General Medicine