Role of personal aptitudes as determinants of incident morbidity, lifestyles, quality of life, use of the health services and mortality (DESVELA cohort): qualitative study protocol for a prospective cohort study in a hybrid analysis

Abstract

IntroductionMaintaining or acquiring healthier health-oriented behaviours and promoting physical and mental health amongst the Spanish population is a significant challenge for Primary Health Care. Although the role of personal aptitudes (characteristics of each individual) in influencing health behaviours is not yet clear, these factors, in conjunction with social determinants such as gender and social class, can create axes of social inequity that affect individuals’ opportunities to engage in health-oriented behaviours. Additionally, lack of access to health-related resources and opportunities can further exacerbate the issue for individuals with healthy personal aptitudes. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between personal aptitudes and health behaviours, as well as their impact on health equity.ObjectivesThis paper outlines the development, design and rationale of a descriptive qualitative study that explores in a novel way the views and experiences on the relationship between personal aptitudes (activation, health literacy and personality traits) and their perception of health, health-oriented behaviours, quality of life and current health status.Method and analysisThis qualitative research is carried out from a phenomenological perspective. Participants will be between 35 and 74 years of age, will be recruited in Primary Health Care Centres throughout Spain from a more extensive study called DESVELA Cohort. Theoretical sampling will be carried out. Data will be collected through video and audio recording of 16 focus groups in total, which are planned to be held in 8 different Autonomous Communities, and finally transcribed for a triangulated thematic analysis supported by the Atlas-ti program.DiscussionWe consider it essential to understand the interaction between health-related behaviours as predictors of lifestyles in the population, so this study will delve into a subset of issues related to personality traits, activation and health literacy.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04386135.

Exploring personal aptitudes and personality traits that, together with social determinants, shape health behaviors and conduct: a thematic analysis based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior (COM-B) change system

“…Some of our limitations are based on the breadth of topics to be addressed, as in the case of the determinants of health, which are so broad and coarse that we were unable to cover them all in depth in this article. Another possible difficulty may be having the intention of addressing a variety of dynamics in the FG, as happened in some cases where the moderator felt the need to hurry and interrupt the fluid dialog of the participants, because of the eagerness to complete all the programmed dynamics TSFG ( 38 ). On the other hand, although in principle our intention in stratifying the sample by rural and urban areas was to find large differences, the comparison did not obtain more than a few discussions on feeding styles in rural and urban areas, but a large participation in both zones was evident ( Figure 3 ).…”

“…This study was part of a mixed-methods project called DESVELA Cohort, and the results presented here correspond to the qualitative phase. All details were described in the published protocols ( 38 , 39 ). This study was conducted on primary care and health promotion during the period 2021–2023 in different Primary Health Care Centers in Spain from 8 Autonomous Communities (AACC; Catalonia, Euskadi, Castilla y León, Aragón, Galicia, Balearic Islands, Castilla la Mancha, and Andalusia).…”

“…Several questions about health status, activation, and health literacy were asked ( 38 ). In order to execute the three dynamics, it was followed the Thematic Script of the Focus Group (TSFG) ( 38 ).…”

“…Several questions about health status, activation, and health literacy were asked ( 38 ). In order to execute the three dynamics, it was followed the Thematic Script of the Focus Group (TSFG) ( 38 ). The first written dynamic of personality traits: this dynamic was carried out with the aim that participants could anonymously describe their main personality traits and share an experience related to them that influenced in some way their health decision-making.…”