UCSF

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has been second to cancer as the most common cause of death for more than three decades in Hong Kong (HK). The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, perceived risks and preventive behavior regarding CHD among Chinese women living in HK. A cross-sectional study of 168 community dwelling women from HK was conducted in three settings. The respondents completed surveys or participated in interviews which included basic sociodemographic information, personal health data, the CHD risk factor knowledge test, CHD risk perception scale, Family APGAR test, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression CES-D and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II questionnaires. Results showed that family function was considered to be "moderately dysfunctional" and the likelihood of depression was 29%. The respondents also showed a low level of CHD risk factor knowledge and a moderate concern for perceived CHD risk. This sample had a low commitment to physical activity in daily life. Pearson correlation coefficient tests were performed to examine relationships between independent and dependent variables. A multiple regression model showed that eight socio-demographic variables, with family functioning and depression, explained 13.6% of the variance in CHD risk factor knowledge (R2=.136, F=2.481, p=.009); and 17.2% of the variance in CHD perceived risk (R2=.172, F=3.266, p=.001). Another regression model with CHD risk factor knowledge, CHD perceived risk, and eight sociodemographic variables (age, educational attainment, number of people living in the household, monthly household income, marital status, self-reported body mass index, economic activity status and religion) as independent variables explained 28.6% of the variance in Chinese Hong Kong women's CHD preventive behavior (R2=.286, F=5.164, p=.000). Results showed that family functioning (Family APGAR) (6.9%) and depression scores (CES-D) (2.9%) significantly contributed to the variance in CHD preventive behavior. This study revealed that family functioning and depression symptoms independently predict CHD preventive behaviors in Chinese women living in HK. Improving family functioning and decreasing depression should be considered as a strategy for heart health promotion.