Exploring research participants’ perceptions of cardiovascular risk information—Room for improvement and empowerment

•Personal risk was largely perceived based on physical signs.•The health examination were highly valued even if normal findings were expected.•A normal test result was seen as a validation of current life style.•The implications of the test result were perceived difficult to understand.•Participants wanted a qualified judgment on what to do based on a total assessment. The objective of this study was to explore research participants’ (adults, age 50–65) perceptions of receiving cardiovascular risk information. Five focus group interviews (N = 31) were performed with research participants aged 50–65 who participated in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS). The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The categories; the complexity of cardiovascular risk; insufficient presentation of test result; emotional responses; and health examinations provides confirmation, emerged. The test results were written in medical terms and lacked recommendations for further action which made it difficult for lay people to understand and use, and for some, also caused unnecessary worry. There was inadequate guidance concerning the implications of the test results, especially for participants without clinical findings. In order to allow research participants to obtain better cognitive and behavioral control, improvements are needed with regard to how personal risk information is communicated in research projects connected to health services. The participants largely relied on physical signs when assessing their own cardiovascular risk. Health examinations are crucial for helping to add nuance to individuals’ risk perceptions. For personal health information to have any real value for individuals, it must be designed from a user perspective.