The aim of the study was to determine whether an examined group of asthmatic patients
differ significantly from a control group of coronary patients with regard to perception
of two groups of etiological factors and their interaction: a) ecological factors,
and b) habits and behavior of the patients. The study included 100 patients with bronchial
asthma and 102 with coronary disease. A questionnaire was used to obtain data
on ecological factors in the living environment of the patients and information on habits
and behavior. The questionnaire was structured according to the specific needs of the
study, and as a starting point known, calibrated, psychometric scales were used. Asthmatic
and coronary patients did not differ with regard to their place of residence, i.e. the
same number lived in the town and village, in similar ecological environments, and
they also did not differ with regard to life style and habits. The study indicated statistically
significant differences between asthmatic and coronary patients in their perception
of several ecological and other risk factors. The asthmatic patients significantly
more frequently perceived harmful ecological factors in their environment and regarded
them significant for the occurrence of their disease. The coronary patients perceived
their unhealthy habits and behavior as the causal factors of their disease
