Cardiovascular
Advancing Applicability and Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Education Programs Through Culture-Specific Designs Alina* Alina Yang
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities among adolescents are pronounced across racial and ethnic groups and exacerbated by cultural factors often overlooked by standard health education, prompting an evaluation of the effectiveness of culturally tailored versus standard prevention programs.
Methods: Utilizing a tripartite randomized design, 615 secondary school students (33% Hispanic, 29% White, 18% Asian, 12% Black, 8% Indigenous; ages 14-18) were allocated to: culturally tailored intervention (n=205), standardized intervention (n=205), or control cohorts (n=205). The culturally tailored protocol incorporated ethnically specific dietary and physical activity modifications over nine months. Qualitative data collection comprised 25 focus groups, analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding procedures to evaluate cultural congruence, knowledge acquisition, attitudinal modifications, and behavioral adaptations.
Results: Students in the culturally tailored group reported substantial increases in CVD knowledge and exhibited greater confidence in applying prevention strategies, with many integrating these changes into daily routines, such as adopting culturally adjusted dietary practices and participating in culturally specific exercises. They also expressed a heightened sense of personal responsibility for their health and a proactive stance in disseminating knowledge within their communities. Conversely, among the standard intervention group, students discussed challenges in relating the uniform content to their personal and cultural practices, leading to limited integration into their daily lives. The control group exhibited negligible changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that culturally tailored CVD prevention programs significantly improve knowledge and attitudes toward cardiovascular health, supporting their broader adoption to address disparities and promote long-term health equity.