Samantha Buls1, Elizabeth A Beverly2,3, Darlene E Berryman1,3,4, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto1,3,5,6. 1. Division of Food and Nutrition Sciences, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA. 2. Department of Family Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, USA. 3. The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA. 4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA. 5. Department of Nutrition and Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the opinions of primary health-care providers and patients regarding the use of the Healthy Heart Score 20-year cardiovascular disease risk assessment tool in the clinical setting. METHODS: Semi-structured in person or phone interviews among 20 patients with no self-reported cardiovascular disease diagnoses and 20 health-care providers in Central (Columbus) and Southeastern (Athens) regions of Ohio. The researchers independently coded transcribed interviews, discussed codes to resolve discrepancies, and agreed on common themes. RESULTS: Participants suggested ways to best utilize and improve the tool, including adding graphics for visual reference of serving size. Patients showed interest in cardiovascular disease primordial prevention and expressed willingness to take the assessment prior to seeing a health-care provider. Health-care providers said that they would recommend the assessment to their patients and would be willing to use the tool in their practice. Health-care providers stated few barriers to using the tool, yet discussed numerous challenges to successful primordial prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the utilization of the Healthy Heart Score as a cardiovascular disease primordial prevention tool in the clinical setting. Additional research implementing the tool into the clinical setting will provide deeper insight into how the tool can impact behavior change and cardiovascular disease prevention.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the opinions of primary health-care providers and patients regarding the use of the Healthy Heart Score 20-year cardiovascular disease risk assessment tool in the clinical setting. METHODS: Semi-structured in person or phone interviews among 20 patients with no self-reported cardiovascular disease diagnoses and 20 health-care providers in Central (Columbus) and Southeastern (Athens) regions of Ohio. The researchers independently coded transcribed interviews, discussed codes to resolve discrepancies, and agreed on common themes. RESULTS: Participants suggested ways to best utilize and improve the tool, including adding graphics for visual reference of serving size. Patients showed interest in cardiovascular disease primordial prevention and expressed willingness to take the assessment prior to seeing a health-care provider. Health-care providers said that they would recommend the assessment to their patients and would be willing to use the tool in their practice. Health-care providers stated few barriers to using the tool, yet discussed numerous challenges to successful primordial prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the utilization of the Healthy Heart Score as a cardiovascular disease primordial prevention tool in the clinical setting. Additional research implementing the tool into the clinical setting will provide deeper insight into how the tool can impact behavior change and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Authors: Fan-Yun Lan; Alejandro Fernandez-Montero; Ioanna Yiannakou; Orestes Marinos-Iatrides; Jacob T Ankeny; Jeffrey Kiser; Costas A Christophi; David C Christiani; Mercedes Sotos-Prieto; Stefanos N Kales Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2020-07 Impact factor: 2.162