Exploring perception of cardiovascular disease risk in female nurses

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Although an accurate perception of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk may influence risk factor reduction behaviours, few studies have explored actual and perceived risk in healthy women of all ages. Purpose: To explore actual and perceived risk of CVD in women across the lifespan. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study included female registered nurses, with no history of CVD (N=816). Results: Perception of CVD risk was moderate, and significantly related to: age, fearing CVD as one’s greatest health risk, discussing CVD risk with one’s primary HCP, and a positive family history of CVD. There was also a significant positive correlation between actual and perceived risk of CVD. Conclusions: This study provided novel research evidence related to the perception of risk for CVD among women of all ages. Nurses are ideally situated to develop strategies to promote accurate risk perception among their adult female patients.