o optimally improve health status after a myocardial infarction it is essential for patients to understand the seriousness of the disease and improve their self-management.
Aims: To describe patients’ perceptions of preventive care, after experiencing a first episode of an acute myocardial infarction in a central hospital in Portugal and to analyze the intent to change behaviors and real changes six months after myocardial infarction.
Methods: Longitudinal descriptive study; 106 patients aged between 35 and 64 years, who had cardiovascular risk factors and a first experience of myocardial infarction were selected. Data was collected in two structured interviews.
Results: Of the patients, 18% had never, by their own accord, chosen to use preventive care services. During hospitalization, 43% described preventive care as a negative perception. Patients showed intent to change their habits but after discharge, they had difficulties in self-management of disease, maintaining monitoring or changing their cardiovascular risk factors such as physical activity (41%), blood pressure (37%), and eating habits (24%).
Conclusions: There were considerable discrepancies between the intention and action in behavioral changes in patients after a myocardial infarction. Regarding the patients’ perceptions, there is a need to improve their involvement in the management of disease.