The relationship between patients’ memory and readiness to change health behaviour in cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: The short-term memory is linked with unhealthy behaviour changes (Blume, Schmaling, Marlatt, 2005). Nevertheless, memory interfaces with the intent to change unhealthy behavior is rarely investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the link between cardiac patie variation of readiness to change their health behaviour before and after rehabilitation. Methods: 304 cardiac rehabilitation patients participated in a two wave panel experiment. The experimental group (N=157) had a regular cardiac rehabilitation program including psychological counselling based on motivational interviewing, seeking to change unhealthy behaviour. The control group (N=147) had regular cardiac rehabilitation. Short version of Intelligence Structure Test was used to assess Short Memory, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet. Findings: T-test showed no statistically signi short memory (p=0.534) consisting from verbal (p=0.574) and visual memory (p=0.628). Experimental group and diet (p>0.05) but short verbal memory (p=0.048) was lower for those patients whose readiness to change physical according to readiness to change alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity nor diet. Discussion: Shortpsychological -term verbal memory readiness to change physical activity decreased after intervention. Further academic insights are required.