Abstract Body: Introduction: The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is nearly doubled in the South Asian population. South Asians experience earlier disease onset and increased morbidity and mortality compared to other ethnic groups. Culturally tailored health education has been shown to improve disease knowledge and clinical outcomes. However, the effectiveness of such initiatives within the South Asian population is not well known. This study aims to investigate changes in knowledge following a culturally tailored CVD and stroke education session in South Asians.
Methods: A 20-minute CVD and stroke prevention education session tailored to South Asian culture was conducted at a local community center. Surveys with clinically focused and culturally focused questions were administered pre- and post- session to assess changes in knowledge. Statistical analysis comparing mean change in knowledge was performed using paired t-tests.
Results: The session was attended by 161 participants who identified as South Asian, with a mean age of 49 years old, 48% female, and a mean length of residence in the US of 20 years. The following risk factors of CVD were identified amongst participants: hypertension in 31%, diabetes mellitus in 24%, obesity in 17%, hyperlipidemia in 34%, arrhythmias in 5%, prior stroke in 3%, and prior myocardial infarction in 7%.
The average pre-session knowledge score was 53 +/- 17 % which increased to 63 +/- 18% post-session (p<0.001). Post-session change in knowledge for questions addressing culturally tailored lifestyle modifications were significantly higher than change in knowledge for questions addressing pathophysiological concepts (p<0.02). Further stratification also reveals that changes in knowledge post-session were greater for questions addressing medical concepts taught in a culturally relevant context than concepts which were not (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Community health education appears to be associated with improved CVD and stroke knowledge in the South Asian community. Furthermore, education provided from a cultural perspective is associated with a greater improvement in knowledge than that provided from a clinically focused perspective. These insights are critical for the development of patient education strategies that align with the cultural practices and values of South Asian individuals, who bear a substantial burden of cardiovascular disease.