The change of attitude of Hungarian physicians towards the importance of risk factors of coronary heart disease over the period 1985–1996

Cardiovascular mortality in Hungary is still increasing, while it shows a continual decrease in the developed Western world. The authors examined, by means of a questionnaire, the attitude of physicians, in a large county hospital, to prevention of cardiovascular diseases and promotion of a healthy way of life. The questionnaire was answered by 170 physicians, 107 (63%) males and 63 (37%) females. Eighty-six percent of them believed coronary heart disease to be preventable. Twenty-six percent of the physicians currently smoked, and 53% did not know their own cholesterol level. As a cardiovascular mortality risk factor smoking was considered the most important risk factor, with sedentary life-style the second, high cholesterol level the third, and hypertension being only the fourth. Hungarian hospital physiciansʹ rating of the effect of reducing the risk factors for coronary heart disease was similar to those results published in 1986 of American doctors, there being no significant difference in the importance attributed to smoking and elevated blood cholesterol. American doctors believed that hypertension had a more important effect on coronary heart disease than did Hungarian physicians, whilst the Hungarians attributed greater importance to a diet high in fat, being overweight, having a sedentary life-style, stress, elevated triglyceride level and type A behaviour. The results of this present study which related to the doctors attitudes towards health education for their patients were compared to results obtained from a study relating to physicians in the same hospital in 1985. Only in two aspects was a significant change observed. According to the authorsʹ opinion greater efforts should be made regarding physician education on the subject of disease prevention. Additionally the employment of well educated nurses with specific training in preventive medicine could improve the effectiveness of the prevention of coronary heart disease.