UCLA

Background. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have increased in young and middle-aged women. Assessing awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of CVD among younger women, and how these factors relate to stage of behavior change, are critical to primary prevention. Aims. (1) Conduct a systematic review of the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of risk factors for CVD among young to middle-aged women. (2) Examine whether race/ethnicity and age were significantly associated with awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of CVD after adjusting for potential confounding factors. (3) Describe the relationship between stage of behavior change and awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of CVD. Methods. PubMed, Cumulated Index to Allied Health and Nursing Literature (CINAHL), Embase, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. Women ages 25-55 living in the United States without a self-reported CVD history were recruited for a cross sectional, descriptive study. Awareness was measured with the question, “What is the leading cause of death for women in the United States?” Knowledge, perceptions, and stage of behavior change were measured with the Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire, Health Beliefs Related to CVD, and the Precaution Adoption Process Model questionnaires, respectively. Results. A review of articles yielded six eligible articles. Younger age was linked to lower awareness and women perceived their knowledge of and susceptibility to CVD as low. 149 women were recruited for the study (mean=37.157.86 years). Women had a high level of awareness and knowledge of CVD. Non-Hispanic white women had higher knowledge (HDFQ= 23.271.72 vs. 22.352.50, p=0.011) and lower susceptibility (9.862.75 vs 11.483.53, p=0.003) compared to racial/ethnic minority women. A binary logistic regression of stage of behavior change on awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of CVD showed that the perception subscales of susceptibility and severity were significantly associated with stage of behavior change (OR 1.247, p<0.001 and OR .809, p=.004 respectively), and remained significant when controlling for covariates (OR 1.242, p=.002 and OR=.801, p=.004, respectively) Conclusions. In this sample of well educated, younger and predominately minority women, awareness and knowledge were high. The racial/ethnic minority women believed they more susceptible to CVD. Susceptibility and severity were associated with intent to change behavior.