Health promotion and cardiovascular risk factors: Knowledge among 510 cardiologic patients hospitalized in an acute care ward

Patients and Methods: A total of 510 patients hospitalized on a cardiologic ward were questioned on cardiovascular disease risk factors using a questi onnaire. The knowledge on these risk factors was assessed with a score syst em. Results: Knowledge of patients on cardiovascular disease risk factors was g enerally low: One out of 5 did not know about the consequences obesity, hig h blood cholesterol or smoking on the coronary vessels. Over 30% did not hy pertension. Only 1 out of 3 patients mentioned diabetes mellitus as a risk factor. There was no change in the knowledge during the hospital stay despi te a standardized and intensive information program. Thc results si the nd survey on the day of discharge were equal to the results of the adminision day. Hospital stays in the past had no influence oil the knowledge. Patient s with a diagnosed corollary heart disease had the same results in he surve y as patients with other diseases, The presence of risk factor had hardly a ny influence on the knowledge of these patients. Conclusion: The result of this study emphasizes the need for better health patients. The repetitive information on health related issues during inpati ent treatment does not seem to have a positive effect on patients' knowledg e. Therefore other ways of health education have to br introduced and evalu ated ill acute care.