The evaluation of secondary school students’ knowledge about risk factors of cardiovascular disease

Bogdańska A, Maniecka-Bryła I, Szpak A

The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of teen-agers about risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the establishment of the field in his problem, which needs attention in realization of education programs addressed to secondary school students. 
This paper presents outcomes of questionnaire study concerning knowledge of the factors promoting cardiovascular diseases occurrence, which took place in 2003 among secondary school 2nd class students. The questionnaire was filled by 167 people, 83 of them were girls and 84 boys.
Study revealed quite good knowledge of such risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, as: alcohol misuse – 86.2% of correct answers, smoking – 85.6% of correct answers. Obesity, family history of CVD, hypertension and sclerosis were pointed as a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases by 79.6%, 75.4%, 73.1%, 68.3% of students, respectively, and sedentary life with low physical activity 74.3%. The analysis of outcomes revealed unsatisfied knowledge of factors connected with the manner of nutrition. Consumption of cream butter was pointed only by 9.0% of students, and frequent eggs consumption – 21.0%, salted meals – 47.3%, irregular eating – 52.7%. Fat meat and animal fat consumption was best recognized risk among nutritional factors – 72.5% of correct answers. 
None of students couldn’t show all correct answers according to 14 included in questionnaire. Every fourth student didn’t know even half of enumerated risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.