Assessment of Knowledge of Critical Cardiovascular Risk Indicators among College Students: Does Stage of Education Matter?

Daniel F. Sarpong, India Y. Curry and Melinda Williams
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Daniel F. Sarpong: Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities for Research and Education, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
India Y. Curry: College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, 5721 USA Drive N. Room 3068, Mobile, AL 36688-0002, USA
Melinda Williams: School of Health Sciences, Jackson State University, 305 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39213, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The health risk of college students in the United States (US) is on the rise, with a significant increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, costing approximately $475.3 billion yearly. The goals of this “Know Your Numbers” study were to: (1) estimate the awareness of college students of their critical health numbers (CHN); and (2) compare a college of pharmacy entry class (IP1) with second semester non-commuter freshman college students (FCS) in knowing their numbers. A cross-sectional 15-item pre-test survey was conducted among a convenience sample of IP1 and FCS. All statistical tests were performed at ? = 0.05. Awareness of their: cholesterol (7%), blood pressure (BP) (35%), glucose (8%), and body mass index (BMI) (42%) were low. The IP1, compared to FCS, were more knowledgeable of: (1) their BP (46% vs. 28%, p = 0.01); (2) BP normal range (74% vs. 63%, p = 0.02); and (3) BMI normal range (39% vs. 23%, p = 0.04). The IP1s maintained a healthier diet than the FCS (64% vs. 36%, p < 0.0001). Awareness of knowing CHN was very low. Knowledge of one’s CHN was significantly associated with knowledge of normal reference values for BP, glucose, and BMI.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; Know Your Numbers; young adults; college students; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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