Implementation of a cardiovascular disease prevention program among school-aged children: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
• Preventable risk factors, such as poor diet and physical inactivity, often originate in adolescence.
• Early health education is crucial for establishing lifelong healthy behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a structured training program on high school students' knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• To determine if the program increases awareness of preventable CVD risk factors.
• To evaluate the potential for such programs to influence long-term health behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 50 high school students across nine counties in Mississippi.
• Knowledge assessment using pre-test and post-test measures before and after an intervention.
• Intervention focused on cardiovascular disease information and risk factor education.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in student knowledge were observed between the pre-test and post-test.
• The training effectively enhanced understanding of cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors.
• Positive knowledge gains suggest the program's efficacy in educating young individuals.

Conclusions:

• Structured health education programs can significantly increase adolescent knowledge of cardiovascular disease.
• This increased knowledge has the potential to promote the adoption of healthier eating and physical activity behaviors.
• Early intervention in schools may lead to sustained behavioral changes, reducing cardiovascular risk throughout life.