This study was a mixed method research. The purpose of the research was to study the predictability of preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke among menopausal women, according to the following factors: blood pressure value, plasma glucose level, body mass index, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers.These predicting factors influenced the preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke among menopausal women. The study was conducted based on the concept of Pender’s health promotion model (2002). The 100 samples using health service at a tertiary hospital were selected based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected via questionnaires which included personal information, preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and In-depth interview related to behaviors of preventing coronary heart disease and stroke.The quantitative data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and multiple regression.The qualitative data was done by content analysis.
The results of the study revealed that most samples (74.0 percent) had a high level of perceived benefits of preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Overall, the factors of perceived self-efficacy (β = .58, p < .001) and body mass index (β = -1.57, p < .05) could be explained the variation of preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke among menopausal women by 35.8 percent (R2 =.358) with statistical significance (p < .001). The qualitative data analysis found that barriers of preventive behaviors for coronary heart disease and stroke among the samples included a lack of perception that they were at high risk of these diseases, as well as the lack of motivation to perform appropriate self-care.
The research results can be used as a guide to nursing care by creating more effective strategies of preventing for coronary heart disease and stroke among menopausal women.