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Making sense of being at 'high risk' of coronary heart disease within primary prevention
journal contribution
posted on 2014-03-10, 12:35 authored by Hannah Farrimond, Paula SaukkoPaula Saukko, Nadeem Qureshi, Philip H. EvansCurrent NHS policy advocates screening to identify individuals at ‘high risk’ of cardiovascular
disease (CHD) in primary care. This paper utilizes the work of Radley to explore
how ‘high risk’ of CHD patients make sense of their new risk status. Results are
presented here from a nested qualitative study within a quantitative randomized trial of a
CHD risk intervention in primary care. ‘Discovery’ interviews were conducted with ‘high
risk’ participants (n=38, mean age=55) two weeks after intervention and thematically
analyzed. In response to perceived threat, many participants sought to both ‘minimize’
and ‘normalize’ their risk status. They also reported intentions to act, particularly
concerning dietary change and exercise, although less so for smoking amongst the lower
SES participants. Such perceptions and intentions were contextualized within the lifecourse
of later middle-age, so that both being at risk, and being treated for risk, were
normalized as part of growing older. Social position, such as gender and SES, was also
implicated. CHD risk interventions should be context-sensitive to the life-course and
social position of those who find themselves at ‘high risk’ of CHD in later middle-age.
History
School
- Social Sciences
Department
- Communication, Media, Social and Policy Studies
Citation
FARRIMOND, H. ... et al, 2010. Making sense of being at 'high risk' of coronary heart disease within primary prevention. Psychology and Health, 25 (3), pp.289-304.Publisher
Routledge (© Taylor & Francis Group)Version
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2010Notes
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Psychology and Health and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870440802499382ISSN
0887-0446eISSN
1476-8321Publisher version
Language
- en