Based on previous studies performed

Based on previous studies performed in the west-ern countries, it has been posited that disease knowl-edge and self-efficacy might be plausible associated factors with the health behaviors in clinical popula-tions with CAD (Fleury & Sedikides, 2007; Lau-Walker, 2007; McKinley et al., 2009; Sol, van der-Graaf, van der Bijl, Goessens, & Visseren, 2008). Dis-ease knowledge is composed of information on pathophysiology,risk factor, treatment modality, and prevention methods related to a certain disease. It contributes to patients’ precise understanding of their disease and facilitates the decision making on the lifestyle modification and its compliance, which may help slow down the disease process (Kayaniyil et al., 2009; Mosca et al., 2006). In addition, disease knowledge was known as a key element for the reduction in treatment-seeking time as well as the primary and secondary disease prevention (Buckley et al., 2007; McKinley et al.). However, most indi-viduals with CADs have passive attitudes towards gaining knowledge on risk factors, signs and symp-toms of disease. Moreover, in the present health care system, there is the limited time for nurses to edu-cate and counsel patients due to the shortened length of hospital stay (Buckley et al.).Thus, patients hardly realize the importance and necessity of knowledge on disease and compliance to healthy lifestyle changes (Lauck et al., 2009). Therefore, empirical examina-tion of the relationship between disease knowledge and health behaviors is needed in the population of CADs.