Knowledge, attitudes and practices on CHD in businessmen and patients

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in businessmen and patients suffering from CHD (30‐60 years), in Jaipur city.

Design/methodology/approach

The subjects were selected using the purposive sampling method. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (n=67) included subjects suffering from frank disease of CHD and were hospitalized for treatment at the time of the study. Group B (n=150) included businessmen with no history of CHD. A detailed standardized pretested and pre‐coded interview schedule was used to elicit information on knowledge, attitude and practices of subjects regarding diet and lifestyle‐related risk factors in CHD patients and businessmen from the normal population.

Findings

The major findings of the study suggest that there was a relationship between knowledge and attitudes of subjects for diet and life style‐related risk factors for CHD at p > 0.05. Diet and life style‐related practices of the subjects were not statistically correlated with their knowledge and attitudes. Smoking practice was found to have a correlation with knowledge for Group A and with attitudes for Group B.

Originality/value

The paper presents a comparative analysis of knowledge, attitude and practices related to diet and life style‐related risk factors for CHD and suggests that creating awareness can lead to prevention of disease.

Citation

Chaturvedi, R., Singh, N., Boolchandani, R. and Chandra, R. (2012), "Knowledge, attitudes and practices on CHD in businessmen and patients", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 42 No. 3, pp. 148-155. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651211228432