Open AccessA qualitative study of facilitators and barriers to cardiovascular risk factor control in a semiurban population in India
Author(s) -
Priyanka Satish,
Aditya Khetan,
Dweep Barbhaya,
Manyoo Agarwal,
Sri Krishna Madan Mohan,
Richard Josephson,
Allison R. Webel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_492_19
Subject(s) - medicine , qualitative research , risk factor , population , theory of reasoned action , focus group , control (management) , west bengal , environmental health , gerontology , social psychology , pathology , socioeconomics , marketing , management , psychology , social science , sociology , economics , business
Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors like diabetes and hypertension are poorly controlled in both rural and urban India. This study was designed to identify the reasons for suboptimal control in a semiurban population in India. A total of 70 participants from the Study to Expand Heart Associated Treatments (SEHAT) trial, conducted in West Bengal, India. We qualitatively examined perspectives regarding CV risk factor control using focus group discussions based on the theory of reasoned action. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze prevailing themes. Participants demonstrated a generalized knowledge of healthy lifestyle practices but lacked insight into disease-specific prevention methods. We further noticed significant gaps in the translation of existing knowledge into behavior. While personal and systemic barriers exist, factors like high patient motivation and a deep sense of trust in providers can potentially be harnessed to improve risk factor control in the community. We identified key facilitators and barriers to CV risk factor control in the community using a knowledge attitude behavior approach. Our findings provide direction for the development of community-based CV risk reduction models.