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The Development and Pilot Testing of an Evidence-Based Cardiovascular Disease Risk-Prevention Program to Promote

Vanessa Duren-Winfield1, Loneke T Blackman Carr2, Georgia A McCauley3

  • 1Department of Healthcare Management, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity : Research, Education and Policy
|March 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A new course for African American college students effectively reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The "Rams Have HEART" program improved healthy eating and CVD knowledge, proving feasible and beneficial.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Health Behavior
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
  • African American (AA) college students face disproportionately high rates of obesity and physical inactivity, key CVD risk factors.
  • Few studies specifically target CVD risk reduction in AA college-aged populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and pilot an evidence-based CVD risk-prevention and intervention course for AA college students.
  • To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a 15-week, technology-enhanced course ('Rams Have HEART') in mitigating CVD risk factors.
  • To compare the intervention's impact against a control course.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 124 AA college students over two years, divided into intervention (n=61) and control (n=63) groups.
  • Assessed CVD risk factors using blood markers and anthropometric measurements at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.
  • Collected demographic, clinical, and survey data, including physical measures, blood marker analysis, and self-report surveys.

Main Results:

  • Mean blood markers for lipid panels and glucose remained within optimal ranges.
  • Intervention participants showed increased fruit and vegetable intake and enhanced knowledge of CVD risk factors.
  • 86% of students in the intervention course passed, and 100% would recommend it.

Conclusions:

  • A healthy lifestyle-behavior CVD intervention course is feasible for AA college students.
  • The 'Rams Have HEART' course effectively increased awareness of chronic disease risk factors and prompted positive behavior change.
  • This intervention demonstrates potential for optimizing cardiovascular health in this specific demographic.
Abstract

Keywords:
African AmericanCardiovascular Disease PreventionCollege StudentsLifestyle BehaviorsMobile Application

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