Assessing Children's Knowledge Regarding Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Background/Purpose: The first objective of this study was to assess the baseline knowledge level of 4th and 5th grade children in regards to modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors. The second objective was to compare the knowledge level of urban and suburban children. The last objective was to examine the possible effect of where and how frequently the child had received education on their current knowledge level.

Method: A total of 109 surveys were completed by 4th and 5th grade children in two urban and two suburban schools. The survey assessed where and how often the children had received previous education of cardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as their current knowledge level. A determination of the student's overall survey score was calculated and comparison of survey results of urban and suburban schools was also completed. Also analysis was done to examine correlation between the child's current knowledge level and where the child had received previous education or how frequently they had received this education.

Analysis/Results: Overall, the students' mean survey score showed a 77.5% comprehension level of cardiovascular disease risk factors. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean survey scores of urban and suburban schools (p=0.98). There was no statistically significant difference in survey scores based on how often the child had received previous education about risk factors (p>0.22). In addition, no correlation was found between survey score and where the child had received previous education (r<0.086).

Conclusions: Education regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors is currently being delivered to children via school, family, and the media. The results of this study suggest that the education to 4th and 5th children, in this study sample, is being retained at a rate of 77.5%. No difference in the knowledge level of urban and suburban children was identified. Therefore, it can be concluded that despite possible differences in educational programming related to cardiovascular disease risk factors between urban and suburban schools, the children in this study are retaining that educational information at the same rate. Lastly, this study showed that these children retained the same amount of knowledge regardless of where or how many times the previous education had been given. Noting this study's results, it is important for future research to examine whether this knowledge level of 77.5% translates to any change in behavior of 4th and 5th grade children to positively affect modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease.