Incorporating a Women's Cardiovascular Health Curriculum Into Medical Education

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of death for women.
• Historically, CVD research has predominantly focused on men, leading to a gap in understanding and addressing women's specific cardiovascular health needs.
• Existing medical curricula often lack sex- and gender-specific education on CVD, contributing to disparities in care for women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the deficit of sex- and gender-specific educational materials on CVD for physicians in Canada.
• To develop and disseminate a comprehensive Canadian Women's Heart Health Education Course.

Main Methods:

• A 6-step curriculum development approach was employed.
• Key steps included needs assessment, content prioritization, goal setting, educational strategy selection, implementation, and evaluation.
• The project was led by the Training and Education Working Group of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance.

Main Results:

• A Canadian Women's Heart Health Education Course was planned, developed, and disseminated.
• The course aims to integrate crucial, women-specific CVD information into medical training.

Conclusions:

• The developed course addresses a critical need for specialized CVD education for women in Canada.
• Improving physician education on women's heart health is essential for reducing disparities in clinical care and outcomes.