An experiential Cardiovascular Health Education Program for African American College Students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Cardiovascular Health Education

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health risk, particularly among African-American populations.
• Culturally specific health interventions are crucial for addressing health disparities in college students.
• Early awareness of family history and personal risk factors for CVD is vital for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a culturally specific and developmentally appropriate curriculum for African-American college students.
• To enhance awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk through self and family assessment.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention aimed at reducing CVD risk in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of students from a historically Black university.
• Implementation of small group workshops focused on CVD family history and risk reduction strategies.
• Conducting focus groups to assess intervention effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Main Results:

• The curriculum demonstrated positive findings regarding program efficacy.
• Participants showed increased understanding of their family history of CVD.
• Students gained knowledge of strategies to reduce their personal risk of CVD.

Conclusions:

• A small group, experiential workshop approach is effective for African-American college students.
• The intervention successfully improved understanding of CVD risk.
• The program facilitated the adoption of healthy heart habits to decrease coronary heart disease risk.