Public health impact of community health screening and education programs on knowledge of coronary heart disease risk factors and health-promoting behaviors

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Despite widespread prevalence, there is a disparity in patient knowledge regarding the role of CHD risk factors in the development and progression of CHD. Community-based public health interventions may be effective strategies for increasing knowledge and awareness of CHD risk factors. This study sought to determine the effects of community health screening and education programs on knowledge of CHD risk factors and participation in health-promoting behaviors. Participants of free health screenings completed a pre-screening written questionnaire to determine baseline knowledge of CHD risk factors. Participants underwent risk factor screening (lipid profile, blood glucose, body mass index, and blood pressure) and received appropriately tailored education. A follow-up telephone questionnaire was administered 4 to 8 weeks later. Pre- and post-screening responses were compared using McNemar's test to determine differences in participants' knowledge and participation in health-promoting behaviors. Of the 56 participants enrolled, 45 (80%) completed the post-screening telephone survey. Compared to pre-screening responses, participants showed significantly greater post-screening knowledge of “healthy” values for CHD risk factors, including blood pressure (p=0.02), fasting blood glucose (p=0.03), fasting total cholesterol (p<0.01), and body mass index (p<0.01). Following the screening, 20 (44%) participants had consulted their primary care provider, and 31 (69%) made at least one healthy behavior change. These results demonstrate that community-based health screening and education programs may effectively promote public health knowledge and empower participants to engage in health-promoting behaviors.