The Effects of Education on Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for adults in the United States. The three main risk factors for the development of CVD include hypertension, high cholesterol, and tobacco use; these factors are largely prevented or reduced through lifestyle modifications. Researchers indicate that knowledge of CVD mortality has been linked with individual action to reduce one’s CVD risk. Researchers have also indicated that segments of our underserved society, particularly those with the highest CVD mortality rates, are also the least knowledgeable about CVD and their own personal risk. These risk factors were a concern within the targeted population for this EBP project: adult patients at a rural Midwest outpatient health center. Using the Stetler Model and Kotter’s Eight Stages of Change as guides, this EBP project was implemented with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of video plus written education materials on CVD knowledge levels among adults with one or more risk factors for the development of CVD. Over an 8-week period, a total of 100 adult patients were asked to watch a 3-minute NHLBI video and provided a CDC written handout on CVD risk factors before their regularly scheduled appointments. Pre- and post-test knowledge tests were collected on 57 adults who completed the entire project. A paired sample t-test demonstrated that the educational intervention significantly increased patient’s CVD knowledge (p \u3c .001). Sixty-eight percent of patients reported they would change their lifestyle habits to reduce their CVD risk factors as a result of this education. The findings suggest this educational strategy resulted in overall favorable effects on patients with CVD risk factors