Heart disease and young adults: is prevention important?

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether prevention of heart disease was important to adolescents and young adults. To study this concept, 2 research questions were asked: (a) Are adolescents and young adults able to identify cardiac risk factors? (b) Is the prevention of coronary heart disease important to adolescents and young adults? A quantitative descriptive design was used. A convenience sample of 63 male and female participants from 2 music organizations participated. The age range of participants was 18 to 21 years old. The participants represented 19 states in the United States. Data were collected through a survey. Results were evaluated using descriptive statistical analysis. Findings demonstrate that adolescents and young adults have some knowledge of certain cardiac risk factors and preventive measures. Prevention is important to this population. Additional education is needed on significant risk factors identified on a low frequency. The results of this study are useful for health educators from a prevention perspective.