[Therapeutic education in primary cardiovascular prevention]

As primary prevention against cardiovascular diseases, Patient Therapeutic Education helps to develop a protective lifestyle within a socioeconomic context where risk factors abound.

Patient Therapeutic Education offers those eager to protect their cardiovascular health a program of six workshops. Upon enrolment, a Program aide conducts an educational diagnosis with the patient, specific to each workshop theme, so that he might understand the clinical, socio-professional, cognitive and psycho-affective dimensions. An evaluation of each workshop is requested from participants in the form of open and closed questions.

The study comprised 2225people, majority women (79%), relatively old (age 63.9for women, 66.3for men), most often retired (65%). An analysis of the educational diagnosis notes a great frequency of classic risk factors; a good knowledge of the factors favoring them contrasting with the weak means implemented in everyday life to reduce their impact; the great majority of participants (68%) believe they have a well balanced diet; patients are greatly involved in their own health, with a slight external locus involving the general practitioner, the immediate entourage and society. The notes of the evaluation are usually maximum.

Patient Therapeutic Education arouses strong interest in the public, allows a personalized approach that optimizes learning, increases knowledge and facilitates the use of new protective practices.