Introduction & Objective: Optimal self-management may help mitigate the high cardiovascular risk of YOD (defined as age at type 2 diabetes diagnosis <40 years). However, perceptions of cardiovascular risk communication have never been studied in YOD. We determined the accessibility, emotional impact, and perceived role of various formats of cardiovascular risk communication in influencing YOD self-management behaviors.
Methods: We depicted cardiovascular risk predictions using 6 different visual formats for this mixed-methods study. Participants rated each format using validated scales (accessibility, emotional responses). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed to understand perceptions using the Behavior Change Wheel framework.
Results: We recruited 18 participants (52.6% women, mean age 41.0 years, 7 ethnic groups). Accessibility and emotional response ratings varied (Table). Lifetime risk formats were perceived as the most clear, accessible, urgent, and motivating to change self-management behavior, while 5-year risk predictions were perceived as reassuringly low and unmotivating. Cardiovascular age was perceived as confusing and unclear.
Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk communication, especially using lifetime risk predictions, may play an important role in interventions to motivate YOD self-management.
M. Abraha: None. J. Senga: None. C.H. Yu: None. B.R. Shah: None. C. Ke: Advisory Panel; Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca.
Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations, Sunnybrook Program to Access Research Knowledge (SPARK) for Black and Indigenous Students
