Determinants of intention to change health-related behavior and actual change in patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke

Abstract Objective To assess determinants of intention to change health-related behavior and actual change in patients with TIA or ischemic stroke. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 100 patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke completed questionnaires on behavioral intention and sociocognitive factors including perception of severity, susceptibility, fear, response-efficacy and self-efficacy at baseline. Questionnaires on physical activity, diet and smoking were completed at baseline and at 3 months. Associations between sociocognitive factors and behavioral intention and actual change were studied with multivariable linear and logistic regression. Results Self-efficacy, response efficacy, and fear were independently associated with behavioral intention, with self-efficacy as the strongest determinant of intention to increase physical activity (aBeta 0.40; 95% CI 0.12–0.71), adapt a healthy diet (aBeta 0.49; 95% CI 0.23–0.75), and quit smoking (aBeta 0.51; 95% CI 0.13–0.88). Intention to change tended to be associated with actual health-related behavior change. Conclusion Self-efficacy, fear, and response-efficacy were determinants of intention to change health-related behavior after TIA or ischemic stroke. Practice implications These determinants of intention to change health-related behavior after TIA or ischemic stroke should be taken into account in the development of future interventions promoting health-related behavior change in these group of patients.