Population perception of risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases

To verify, in a sample of adults and elderly subjects living in areas covered by primary health care in Brazil, which factors people rank as more important for health. Cross-sectional study comprising 4,060 adults and 4,003 elderly subjects living in areas covered by 240 primary health care units in the south and northeast regions of Brazil. A card with pictures and sentences related to variables associated with the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases was shown to individuals, and they were asked to point out which was the most important for health. The factors were: keeping a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding excessive drinking, having regular medical consultations, avoiding smoking, keeping ideal body weight, and controlling stress.  Among adults, the most frequently indicated factors were healthy diet (33.8%), physical exercise (21.4%) and avoid smoking (13.9%). Among the elderly, the leading factors were healthy diet (36.7%), avoid smoking (17.7%) and having regular medical consultations (14.2%). The cited factors varied according to geographical region, demographic, socioeconomic and health-related variables. According to the characteristics of the individuals, different answers were given. These data may help health professionals at organizing and planning effective strategies aimed at benefiting the population in terms of health education. There is also a need for integrating health advices in different areas, with the aim of promoting behavioral changes, as well as qualifying the advice currently performed in primary health care units in terms of several important health-related messages.