Aim: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common cause of impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy in older adults. An important component of PAD management is improvement in health behavior, but few effective means to achieve this have been identified. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of motivational interviewing (MI) to facilitate positive health behavior change in patients with PAD.
Methods: Participants (N.=23) diagnosed with PAD were randomized to MI sessions or a control group. Primary outcomes of physical activity and dietary behavior and secondary outcomes of quality of life were assessed with questionnaires at baseline and after 12 weeks.
Results: At 12 weeks, physical activity (330 vs. 396 met-mins/week, P=0.74) and dietary behavior (1 vs. 1, P=0.89; 2.67 vs. 2.61, P=0.62) were similar in both groups. MI participants reported significantly better quality of life compared to control participants (71 vs. 61, P=0.01). Participants' comments suggested that MI promoted a process of re-appraisal of health status.
Conclusion: This exploratory study has indicated that MI may improve aspects of quality of life and provide a prompt to reappraise health status and health behaviors in patients with PAD. Validation of these findings and assessment of impact on health outcomes is required in a larger and long-term study.