[Health promotion and cardiovascular risk factors. The level of knowledge among 510 inpatients of an acute coronary care unit].
METHODS
A total of 510 patients hospitalized on a cardiologic ward were questioned on cardiovascular disease risk factors using a questionnaire. The knowledge on these risk factors was assessed with a score system.


RESULTS
Knowledge of patients on cardiovascular disease risk factors was generally low: One out of 5 did not know about the consequences of obesity, high blood cholesterol or smoking on the coronary vessels. Over 30% did not name hypertension. Only 1 out of 3 patients mentioned diabetes mellitus as a risk factor. There was no change in the knowledge during the hospital stay despite a standardized and intensive information program. The results of the second survey on the day of discharge were equal to the results of the admission day. Hospital stays in the past had no influence on the knowledge. Patients with a diagnosed coronary heart disease had the same results in the survey as patients with other diseases. The presence of risk factors had hardly any influence on the knowledge of these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The result of this study emphasizes the need for better health information for patients. The repetitive information on health related issues during inpatient treatment does not seem to have a positive effect on patients' knowledge. Therefore other ways of health education have to be introduced and evaluated in acute care.
Baberg
H T
HT
Abteilung für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum. henning.t.baberg@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Jäger
D
D
Kahrmann
G
G
de Zeeuw
J
J
Bojara
W
W
Lemke
B
B
von Dryander
S
S
Barmeyer
J
J
Kugler
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires