Table 3 Coronary heart disease knowledge scores of all participants for each question
Question | Baseline(%) n = 76 | 12 weeks(%) n = 40 | 24 weeks(%) n = 32 |
|---|---|---|---|
1.Polyunsaturated fats are healthier for the heart than saturated fats | 14 (18) | 30 (75) | 5 (16) |
2.Women are less likely to get heart disease after menopause than before | 15 (20) | 11 (28) | 6 (19) |
3.Having had chickenpox increases the risk of getting heart disease | 29 (38) | 12 (30) | 18 (56) |
4.Eating a lot of red meat increases heart disease risk | 37 (49) | 26 (65) | 18 (56) |
5.Most people can tell whether or not they have high blood pressure | 30 (40) | 11 (28) | 18 (56) |
6.Trans-fats are healthier for the heart than most other kinds of fats | 2 (3) | 0 (0) | 19 (59) |
7.The most important cause of heart attacks is stress | 2 (3) | 3 (8) | 1 (3) |
8.Walking and gardening are considered types of exercise that can lower heart disease risk | 67 (88) | 37 (93) | 23 (72) |
9.Most of the cholesterol in an egg is in the white part of the egg | 17 (22) | 17 (43) | 22 (69) |
10.Smokers are more likely to die of lung cancer than heart disease | 6 (8) | 3 (8) | 1 (3) |
11.Taking an aspirin each day decreases the risk of getting heart disease | 31 (41) | 16 (40) | 23 (72) |
12.Dietary fibre lowers blood cholesterol | 51 (67) | 38 (95) | 15 (47) |
13.Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States | 44 (58) | 32 (80) | 15 (47) |
14.The healthiest exercise for the heart involves rapid breathing for a sustained period | 33 (43) | 17 (43) | 12 (38) |
15.Turning pale or grey is a symptom of having a heart attack | 14 (18) | 19 (48) | 15 (47) |
16.A healthy person's pulse should return to normal within 15 min after exercise | 43 (57) | 20 (50) | 9 (28) |
17.Sudden trouble seeing in one eye is a common symptom of having a heart attack | 36 (47) | 14 (35) | 15 (47) |
18.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) helps to clear clogged blood vessels | 4 (5) | 2 (5) | 11 (34) |
19.HDL refers to “good” cholesterol, and LDL refers to “bad” cholesterol | 14 (18) | 5 (13) | 10 (31) |
20.Arterial defibrillation is a procedure where hardened arteries are opened to increase blood flow | 5 (7) | 4 (10) | 12 (38) |
21.Feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint is a common symptom of having a heart attack | 33 (43) | 24 (60) | 14 (44) |
22.Taller people are more at risk of getting heart disease | 48 (62) | 22 (55) | 22 (69) |
23.“High” blood pressure is defined as 110/80 (systolic/diastolic) or higher | 30 (39) | 22 (55) | 22 (69) |
24.Most women are more likely to die from breast cancer than heart disease | 6 (8) | 4 (10) | 6 (19) |
25.Margarine with liquid safflower oil is healthier than margarine with hydrogenated soy oil | 26 (34) | 28 (70) | 8 (25) |
26.People who have diabetes are at higher risk of getting heart disease | 43 (57) | 34 (85) | 19 (59) |
27.Men and women experience many of the same symptoms of a heart attack | 32 (42) | 22(55) | 16 (50) |
28.Eating a high fibre diet increases the risk of getting heart disease | 31 (41) | 36 (90) | 21 (66) |
29.Heart disease is better defined as a short-term illness than a chronic, long-term illness | 37 (49) | 28 (70) | 17 (53) |
30.Many vegetables are high in cholesterol | 59 (78) | 38 (95) | 25 (78) |
Total scores | 37 | 49 | 47 |