The Wahine Heart Wellness Program: A Community Approach to Reducing Women's Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Although Hawai'i has relatively low rates of death from heart disease and stroke, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) are plagued with disproportionately higher rates of the chronic diseases that contribute to these deaths. This study follows a Practice Inquiry Project framework and aims to improve identification of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and promote health literacy of the disease in Asian, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islander women on O'ahu. The study addresses: (a) assessment of current level of awareness of CVD as the leading cause of death for this population; (b) implementation of a CVD risk reduction program; and (c) an evaluation of that program's effectiveness in decreasing CVD risk. The study design used a mixed methods approach. The methods included a cardiovascular awareness questionnaire (pre-test and post-test), a screening process using the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 matrix, and 6 educational sessions. With these research methods, the participants' knowledge levels, health perceptions, and behaviors were evaluated. A convenience sample of 20 predominantly Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women were recruited. At the conclusion of the project, participants showed increased awareness of CVD and improved behaviors to reduce the risk of CVD. The project also demonstrated that collaboration and partnerships between local schools of nursing and community organizations, community-based integrated approaches, incorporating health literacy, and infusing cultural knowledge into practice are important in creating successful and innovative solutions when working with Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander women.