title: Knowledge of cardiovascular disease in Turkish undergraduate nursing students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. However, there is not enough data exploring student nurses' understanding, knowledge, and awareness of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among undergraduate nursing students, with an emphasis on understanding of cardiovascular disease as the primary cause of mortality and morbidity, both in Turkey and worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey assessed 1138 nursing students enrolled in nursing schools in Istanbul, Turkey. Data were collected using the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL) scale and questions from the Individual Characteristics Form about students' gender, age, level of education, and family cardiovascular health history, as well as smoking and exercise habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge about cardiovascular disease, with years of education (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), and high school type (p < 0.05) all significantly associated with CARRF-KL scores. However, more than half of the students were not aware that cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in Turkey and worldwide. The majority of the respondents' body mass index (87%) and waist circumference values (females: 90.3%, males: 94.7%) were in the normal range and most were non-smokers (83.7%). However, more than half of the students did not exercise regularly and had inadequate dietary habits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although students were knowledgeable about cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, there were significant gaps in their knowledge; these should be addressed through improved nursing curricula. While students were generally healthy, they could improve their practice of health-promoting behaviors.
authors: Koc University School of Nursing, Istanbul abadir@ku.edu.tr.
authors: Aysel
authors: A
authors: Badir
authors: University of Washington School of Nursing, USA.
authors: Kader
authors: K
authors: Tekkas
authors: Koc University School of Nursing, Istanbul.
authors: Serpil
authors: S
authors: Topcu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D064646:Cardiovascular Nursing / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; health behaviors; knowledge; nursing students; risk factors