PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors on health behavior among patients with coronary artery disease. METHOD: The subjects were 95 patients who visited the out-patient department of a university hospital for follow-up. The four health belief concepts (motivation, benefit, barrier, seriousness), general self-efficacy, health behaviors on medication, diet, exercise, stress management, smoking, and drinking were measured. RESULT: There were significant differences in the health behavior scores of subjects according to family support and the experience of surgical procedure. Subjects were found to have a high degree of compliance in taking medication. However subjects reported the lowest degree of compliance in regular exercise. In the multiple regression analysis, surgical procedure and motivation were significant predictors to explain diet. Motivation and barrier were significant predictors to explain exercise. Self-efficacy, motivation and family support were significant predictors to explain stress management. Family support and seriousness explained 16% of variance in drinking. Also, family support explained 30% of variance in smoking. CONCLUSION: Since predicting factors on each health behavior indicator were different, then nurses should consider these differences to construct strategy enhancing patient's recovery.