Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109305

Kurt Schweigman, MPH, Black Hills Center for American Indian Health, 701 St. Joseph Street, Suite 204, Rapid City, SD 57701, 605-348-6100, kschweigman@bhcaih.org, June E. Eichner, PhD, Native American Prevention Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 800 N.E. 15th St., Room 532, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, Thomas K. Welty, MD, MPH, Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmans Health Board, 5990 East Jeremy Lane, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, and Ying Zhang, PhD, Center for American Indian Health Research, University of Oklahoma, 801 N.E. 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73190.

Understanding risk factor awareness is the key first step in reducing the rising tide of heart disease among American Indians. Using data from the longitudinal Strong Heart Study the present study determined the level of awareness about risk factors for heart disease among thirteen populations of American Indians in Arizona, Oklahoma, and South/North Dakota. American Indians are experiencing an epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and without aggressive prevention programs, CVD mortality and morbidity will continue to increase. The aim of this study is to assess awareness of nine major risk factors for heart disease among participants of the Strong Heart Study. During July 1993 to December 1995, 3,226 participants ages 46 to 80 (mean age 60) were asked if nine known risk factors for CVD affect a person's chances of getting heart disease.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives for the session

• Determine the awareness for nine known major heart disease risk factors among thirteen populations of middle aged and elder American Indians.
• Be familiar with the five sociodemographic and lifestyle attributes associated with significant lowered awareness of heart disease risk factors in order to prioritize education outreach efforts among thirteen populations of middle aged and elder American Indians.
• Identify culturally appropriate American Indian specific prevention and education programs and methods that will improve knowledge in attributes associated with lowered awareness of heart disease risk factors among American Indians.

Keywords: American Indians, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation