Health care student attitudes toward the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Enhancing successful counseling for cardiovascular disease prevention remains a challenge for health professionals and nursing and medical educators. To gain insight into the attitudes of health care professional students toward cardiovascular prevention strategies, this study examined the associations among prevention attitudes and health professional student demographics and health habits. Based on a self-administered survey completed by nursing and medical students from two Midwestern institutions, healthier personal lifestyle choices were independently associated with more positive attitudes toward cardiovascular prevention, but demographic factors were not. Educational experiences that encourage reflection on student lifestyles may enhance the counseling abilities of both nurses and physicians.