Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background : Prevalence of coronary artery disease and its death rate is increasing in Iran. Appropriate health behaviors and life style can prevent the disease in the first place and also its reoccurrence .

  Objective : To identify changes in patients' health behaviors 4-6 months after myocardial infarction (MI).

  Design : A cross- sectional design was employed to measure dietary regiment, cigarettes smoking, exercise and stress- coping behaviors pre and post (4-6 months) MI using a self administered questionnaire.

  Samples : 89 patients were selected by stratified random sampling 4-6 months after their first MI attach.

  Results : Considering cigarette smoking behavior most of the patients were nor smoking before MI and remained unchanged (84%). Regarding dietary regiment most of the patients had unhealthy behavior before MI and remained unchanged afterwards (68.5%). Exercise behavior in 36% of the subjects was appropriate and remained unchanged, while 34.8% were unappropriate and also unchanged. More than 50% of the patients had healthy behavior in regard to coping with stress at both pre and post stages.

  Conclusion : Nurses should reinforce health education particularly the appropriate health behaviors. Follow up of the patients is recommended in order to maintain healthy behaviors or to change unhealthy ones' after MI.