22257420

PMC3905745

Aim

To evaluate perceived risk, control, worry, and severity about diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke among individuals at increased familial risk of diabetes.

Methods

Data analyses were based on the Family Healthware™ Impact Trial. Baseline health beliefs were compared across three groups: (1) no family history of diabetes, CHD or stroke (n = 836), (2) family history of diabetes alone (n = 267), and (3) family history of diabetes and CHD and/or stroke (n = 978).

Results

After adjusting for age, gender, race, education and BMI, scores for perceived risk for diabetes (p < 0.0001), CHD (p < 0.0001) and stroke (p < 0.0001) were lowest in Group 1 and highest in Group 3. Similar results were observed about worry for diabetes (p < 0.0001), CHD (p < 0.0001) and stroke (p < 0.0001). Perceptions of control or severity for diabetes, CHD or stroke did not vary across the three groups.

Conclusions

Among individuals at increased familial risk for diabetes, having family members affected with CHD and/or stroke significantly influenced perceived risk and worry. Tailored lifestyle interventions for this group that assess health beliefs and emphasize approaches for preventing diabetes, as well as its vascular complications, may be an effective strategy for reducing the global burden of these serious but related chronic disorders.

CDC Public Access

CWR-U36/CCU319276 MM0630/PHS HHS/United States
ENH-U50/CCU300860 TS-1216/TS/ATSDR CDC HHS/United States
K07 CA086958/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
K07 CA131103/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
K07 CA131103/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
UM-U36/CCU319276 MM-0789/PHS HHS/United States