BELIEFS OF BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS REGARDING CORONARY RISK BEHAVIORS

Focus group discussions were employed to gain insights into the percep tions and beliefs of blue collar workers regarding coronary risk behav iours, in order to reveal factors which might increase receptivity to change for better health. A total of 116 manual workers from three cat egories, as defined by the Australian Standard Classification of Occup ations, participated in group discussions at 10 worksites in metropoli tan Sydney. The discussions yielded a rich array of beliefs and percep tions regarding heart disease, risk factors, personal risks, motivatio ns and perceived barriers to change. The most powerful influencing fac tors in the lives of participants were considerations of ongoing perso nal well-being rather than end-stage health. Well-being was distinguis hed by being tied primarily to social affiliation and achieving well-b eing was seen as a positive, ongoing process over which the individual had a degree of control. This contrasted sharply with achieving healt h, which was perceived as a negative process of avoidance and determin ed by chance rather than individual action. Recommendations include th e development of initiatives in heart health promotion that enhance th e association of healthy behaviours with perceived well-being, rather than the conventional approach of admonishing individuals to instigate changes that are perceived by them as diminishing well-being.