Knowing personal risk may spur lifestyle changes

April 21, 2002

NEW YORK, Mar 21 (Reuters Health) - Old habits are hard to break, but it

may be easier when people have the cold, hard facts about their personal

risk of disease, research suggests.

Few studies have looked at whether knowing about " biomarkers " like high

cholesterol readings spur the average person to make lifestyle changes,

but what evidence there is suggests that more information is better,

according to one researcher.

In a review of eight studies on the matter, Dr. B. McClure of

the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, found that giving

patients such personal health information had mixed results in getting

them to change their ways.

However, all of the studies that yielded positive results either gave

patients information on several of their health indicators or drove home

the point about one risk factor by measuring it several times.

McClure reports her findings in the April issue of the American Journal

of Preventive Medicine.

For example, the researcher found that in a study of smokers, those who

had their carbon monoxide levels and genetic susceptibility to lung

cancer assessed were twice as likely to attempt quitting as those not

given such personal information.

In another study, giving individuals fitness tests plus a " health hazard

appraisal " --which estimated their risk of dying from preventable causes

in the next 10 years--spurred many to vow to get more exercise.

In addition, McClure reports, studies that combined information with

services--such as dietary instruction from a nurse--found greater

effects on participants' behavior.

She calls for more research into how and when health indicators help

patients make lifestyle changes. Such information, she notes, could be

potentially harmful if patients become distressed or feel

helpless--particularly when it comes to unchangeable genetic

information.

Many of the leading causes of death, however, are related to modifiable

factors including smoking, diet and exercise habits.

SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2002;22.

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