Introduction: Individuals in the developing world are quick to adopt patterns of behavior that mimic Western trends even when those trends have negative long term effects on health. In this study we relate survey results describing attitudes and perceptions toward individual health responsibility of people being treated for non-communicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in order to improve public health interventions.
Methods: We conducted convenience sample surveys in both English and native languages at outpatient clinics and hospital centers in Fiji, Nauru, and Kiribati with people being treated for non-communicable diseases. We used the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile in regression analyses to explore underlying factors explaining patient attitudes in managing their illnesses.
Results: Our results suggest that there exist attitudinal differences among afflicted populations with regard to stress, physical activity, nutrition, and health responsibility. One unifying theme is the lack of interest in conventional public health educational methods including printed material and public lectures. These similarities and differences must be recognized by government health ministries as well as international health organizations when developing public health interventions.
Conclusion: Public health professionals and educators must develop ways to transmit the message of healthy lifestyles to populations in the South Pacific that do not give much attention to conventional public health education methods. The epidemic of non-communicable disease that is occurring in many of the Pacific Island nations will only be effectively addressed by new educational approaches.