Evaluation of community health screening participants' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among a group of health screening participants and to compare knowledge between participants with high and low CVD risk.


METHODS
Cross-sectional pilot study.


METHODS
Jonesboro, AR, during June 2007.


METHODS
121 adult volunteers participating in a community health screening.


METHODS
34-item self-administered written questionnaire.


METHODS
Ability to identify CVD risk factors and healthy values for CVD risk factors and the differences in these abilities between participants with high and low CVD risk.


RESULTS
Participants demonstrated good knowledge of traditional CVD risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and overweight or obese status. Knowledge of other CVD risk factors and healthy values for major CVD risk factors was limited. Participants with high CVD risk were significantly more likely to correctly identify high triglycerides as a CVD risk factor and to identify healthy values for fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol compared with participants with low CVD risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, participants lacked knowledge of the risk factor status and healthy values for many CVD risk factors. Participants with high CVD risk may have better knowledge of some CVD risk factors than participants with low CVD risk. These findings highlight the need for more education to improve knowledge in both risk groups.
Mooney
Leslie A
LA
College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA.
Franks
Amy M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001131:Arkansas; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult