Protection motivation theory and the prediction of exercise and low-fat diet behaviours among Australian cardiac patients

Abstract

This study developed psychometric scales to measure the main components of Rogers' (1983) Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). A clinical population of cardiac sufferers were recruited to examine respondents' intentions and stage of bebaviour change of following a low-fat diet and maintaining adequate exercise to prevent further coronary heart disease. The PMT model was tested with 151 patients during hospitalization and six months after their cardiac event to determine the model's strength in determining dietatry and exercise intentions and stage of behaviour change. The data provide some support for PMT applied to heart disease patients.