Brief lifestyle advice in cardiac care: An experimental study on message source and framing

Renée V.H. IJzerman*, Rosalie van der Vaart, Linda D. Breeman, Inge van den Broek, Mike Keesman, Roderik A. Kraaijenhagen, Thomas Reijnders, Margo Weerts, Andrea W.M. Evers, More Authors

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objective
Communicating risk information and offering lifestyle advice are important goals in cardiac rehabilitation. However, the most effective way and the most effective source to communicate this information are not yet known. Therefore, we examined the effect of source (cardiologist, physiotherapist) and framing (gain, loss) of brief lifestyle advice on patients’ intention-to-change-lifestyle.

Methods
In an online experimental study, 636 cardiac patients (40% female, 67 (10) yrs.) were randomly assigned to one of four textual vignettes. Effect of source and framing on intention-to-change-lifestyle (assessed using a 5-point Likert scale) was analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

Results
Patients expressed positive intention-to-change-lifestyle after receiving advice from the cardiologist (M = 4.1) and physiotherapist (M = 3.9). However, patients showed significantly higher intention-to-change-lifestyle after receiving advice from the cardiologist (0.58 [0.54–0.61]) when compared with the physiotherapist (0.52 [0.48–0.56]), (F[1,609] = 7.06, P = 0.01). Gain-framed and loss-framed advice appeared equally effective. However, communicating risks (loss) was remembered by only 9% of patients, whereas 89% remembered benefits (gain).

Conclusions
Our study shows the value of cardiologists and physiotherapists communicating brief lifestyle advice, as cardiac patients expressed positive intention for lifestyle change after receiving advice, irrespective of framing. Lifestyle advice should include benefits due to better recall.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-44
Number of pages7
JournalNetherlands Heart Journal
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Intention
  • Lifestyle
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Very Brief Advice

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