The patterns, and individual contexts of heart health behavioural change

Voluntary health screening clinics have been made available to people in rural areas over many years, however what health changes do these people make as a result of the screening process? A group of Central Queensland adults, who voluntarily undertook heart risk screening, supported by client -centred health goal setting, participated in a follow up study, post screening. The participants were contacted using telephone interviews, at six and twelve month intervals, to ascertain what health behavioural changes, if any, had occurred. Self reported information was sought concerning perceptions of personal health, present health behaviour and the factors in participants' lifestyles which supported or inhibited positive health behaviour. Qualitative analysis of the data was undertaken to determine the types of changes made and the reported contextual issues affecting health behaviour, both individually and collectively. Participants' perceptions of contextual factors that influence health behaviours and their ability to engage in and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours were identified. While some of these factors had been identified in other studies, very little information on this topic, has been reported and no research has been undertaken involving participants from the Central Queensland region. Knowledge from this study will contribute to enhancing health promotional programs, so that programs will meet more of the needs of those whom they seek to influence.