Unrealistic pessimism about risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Unrealistic pessimism about risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes

AU - Asimakopoulou, Koula G.

AU - Skinner, T. Chas

AU - Spimpolo, Jennifer

AU - Marsh, Sally

AU - Fox, Charles

PY - 2008/4/1

Y1 - 2008/4/1

N2 - Objective: We examined the accuracy of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients' risk estimates of developing coronary heart disease (CHD)/having a stroke as a consequence of diabetes and their mood about these risks. Methods: Patients reported their perceived risks of developing CHD/having a stroke and rated their mood about these risks using a self-report measure. Using an objective risk calculator, they were then told their actual risk of CHD and stroke and their mood was re-assessed. Results: Patients' estimates of their risk of CHD/stroke were grossly inflated. A negative relationship between disease risk and mood was also seen where higher risk of actual and perceived CHD/stroke was related to worse mood. A positive relationship between mood and extent of perceptual error was further observed; the more inaccurate patients' perceptions of CHD/stroke risk were, the better their mood. Mood improved after patients were given accurate risk information. Conclusion: T2D patients are unrealistically pessimistic about their risk of developing CHD/stroke. These risks and the extent of perceptual risk error are associated with mood, which improves upon providing patients with accurate risk information about CHD/stroke. Practice implications: These results have implications for the routine communication of risk to T2D patients.

AB - Objective: We examined the accuracy of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients' risk estimates of developing coronary heart disease (CHD)/having a stroke as a consequence of diabetes and their mood about these risks. Methods: Patients reported their perceived risks of developing CHD/having a stroke and rated their mood about these risks using a self-report measure. Using an objective risk calculator, they were then told their actual risk of CHD and stroke and their mood was re-assessed. Results: Patients' estimates of their risk of CHD/stroke were grossly inflated. A negative relationship between disease risk and mood was also seen where higher risk of actual and perceived CHD/stroke was related to worse mood. A positive relationship between mood and extent of perceptual error was further observed; the more inaccurate patients' perceptions of CHD/stroke risk were, the better their mood. Mood improved after patients were given accurate risk information. Conclusion: T2D patients are unrealistically pessimistic about their risk of developing CHD/stroke. These risks and the extent of perceptual risk error are associated with mood, which improves upon providing patients with accurate risk information about CHD/stroke. Practice implications: These results have implications for the routine communication of risk to T2D patients.

KW - Coronary heart disease

KW - Doctor-patient communication

KW - Mood

KW - Patient education

KW - Risk communication

KW - Risk perception

KW - Stroke

KW - Type 2 diabetes

KW - Unrealistic optimism

KW - Unrealistic pessimism

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40049096960&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2007.12.007

DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2007.12.007

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18242931

AN - SCOPUS:40049096960

SN - 0738-3991

VL - 71

SP - 95

EP - 101

JO - Patient Education and Counseling

JF - Patient Education and Counseling

IS - 1

ER -