Cardiovascular risk modification in the college student: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors

Abstract

Study objectives: To study knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding cardiovascular risk in college students, and to delineate preferred modes of gaining further information.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Four-year public liberal arts college.

Participants: 1,503 students returning a questionnaire (response rate of 60.4%).

Results: Over 91% of respondents knew hypertension was a major cardiovascular risk factor. In addition, 90% identified smoking, 86.7% identified cholesterol level, and 72% identified exercise as additional factors. Under 16% reported that they smoked cigarettes, but only 33.5% exercised regularly. Only 32.9% had had cholesterol levels checked, with 19.2% knowing their values. Over 94% named doctors and nurses as desired sources of further information, yet only 23% said doctors had previously discussed prevention of heart disease with them.

Conclusions: General knowledge of cardiac risk factors is high among college students, yet actual behavior does not necessarily reflect assimilation of these concepts. Students seek health information from traditional sources. Primary care physicians have a unique opportunity to address these issues, especially in the pre-college physical examination.