Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Health Behaviour Changes After Diagnosis Of Chronic Illness Among Canadians Aged 50 Or Older, Jason T. Newsom, Nathalie Huguet, Pamela L. Ramage-Morin, Michael Joseph Mccarthy, Julie Bernier, Mark S. Kaplan, Bentson H. Mcfarland

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Changes in health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption) after diagnosis of chronic health conditions (heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and diabetes) were examined among Canadians aged 50 or older. Results from 12 years of longitudinal data from the Canadian National Population Health Survey indicated relatively modest changes in behavior. Although significant decreases in smoking were observed among all groups except those with respiratory disease, at least 75% of smokers did not quit. No significant changes emerged in the percentage meeting physical activity recommendations, except those with diabetes, or in excessive alcohol consumption, except …