What matters to cardiac patients? The impact of linking life goals to health goals on patients' intention-to-change-lifestyle
an online experiment
Renée V.H. IJzerman (Universiteit Leiden, Universiteit van Amsterdam)
Rosalie van der Vaart (De Haagse Hogeschool)
Linda D. Breeman (Universiteit Leiden)
Inge van den Broek (Harteraad)
Elise Dusseldorp (Universiteit Leiden)
Roderik Kraaijenhagen (NDDO Institute for Prevention and Early Diagnostics (NIPED), Amsterdam, Vital10, Amsterdam)
Thomas Reijnders (Universiteit Leiden)
Andrea W.M. Evers (TU Delft - Society, Culture and Critique, Universiteit Leiden, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)
Wilma J.M. Scholte Op Reimer (Universiteit van Amsterdam, Hogeschool Utrecht (HU))
Veronica R. Janssen (Leiden University Medical Center)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Guidelines advocate goal setting for promoting lifestyle changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. This study investigates 1) preferences in health and life goal domains in CVD patients, 2) the impact of linking life goals to health goals on intention-to-change-lifestyle and explores 3) socio-demographic and health-related variables influencing intention-to-change-lifestyle. DESIGN: Online experimental study. METHODS: Patients (N = 629, mean age 66.6; 39% female) were randomized to health-goal-group (HG) or life-and-health-goal-group (LHG). HG set a health goal, and LHG first established a life goal and then set a supporting health goal. Directly after goal setting, the primary outcome, intention-to-change-lifestyle, was measured and analysed using logistic regression (high: 9-10 vs. lower: ≤8.5), as were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Exercise goals were most frequently selected in LHG (66.0%) and HG (66.9%). Preference for selecting stress management was significantly higher in LHG (17.3%) than HG (9.3%), χ2(1) = 8.85, p = .003; OR = 2.05, 95%CI [1.27-3.30]. The direct effect of goal-setting condition on intention-to-change-lifestyle was non-significant (OR = .98, 95%CI [.71-1.34], p = .88). In exploratory analyses, lower- and medium-educated patients showed significantly higher intention when life and health goals were linked (OR = 2.55, 95%CI [1.03-6.27], p = .04, and OR = 2.47, 95%CI [1.15-5.30], p = .02, respectively). Perceived meaning in life was positively associated with intention. CONCLUSIONS: No main effect of goal-setting condition on intention-to-change-lifestyle was found. Linking life goals to health goals increased preference for stress management and, in exploratory analyses, was associated with higher intention-to-change-lifestyle among lower- and medium-educated patients. Findings emphasize the relevance of personalized, value-based goal setting within cardiac rehabilitation.
help_outline