CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE KNOWLEDGE AND RISK PERCEPTION AMONG
WOMEN WITH RECENT PREECLAMPSIA: INTERVENTIONAL EDUCATION IN
DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION
PATSY M. SPRATLING
SCHOOL OF NURSING
ABSTRACT
There is a growing body of evidence linking preeclampsia to future development
of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although CVD is well-known as the leading cause of
death in women, a lack of evidence exists demonstrating that women with preeclampsia
are routinely informed of their risks for future CVD. The specific aims of this study were
to: (1) examine the levels of CVD knowledge and perception of CVD risk pre-CVD
education; (2) explore relationships among age, race, parity, marital status, previous
preeclampsia, income, education, CVD knowledge, and perception of CVD risk; and (3)
examine the effect of a postpartum CVD educational intervention on personal perception
of CVD risk in women with new-onset preeclampsia.
Using telephone-based interviews, baseline levels of CVD knowledge and CVD
risk perception were examined among 64 women with recent, new-onset preeclampsia.
Relationships among CVD knowledge, CVD risk perception, and several covariates (age,
race, parity, marital status, previous preeclampsia, income, and education) were also
examined. The intervention of CVD education was provided after baseline data were
collected; CVD risk perception was reexamined post-CVD education.
At baseline, CVD knowledge was found to be a significant predictor of CVD risk
perception, accounting for 8.4% of explained variance (p = 0.011). Although none of the
covariates significantly influenced CVD risk perception, the factors of age and income
iv
significantly influenced CVD knowledge (R2
= 0.226; p =.001). After CVD education,
levels of CVD risk perception were significantly higher than at baseline (paired t = - 2.3;
p = 0.003).
Accurate perceptions of CVD risk have been associated with demonstrable
behaviors suggestive of risk reduction. As an intervention, CVD education, provided by
telephone, served as a practical and effective approach to reaching women with recent,
new-onset preeclampsia. Results of the CVD risk perception scale from baseline to postCVD
education demonstrated that CVD education significantly increased perceptions of
personal CVD risk among women with recent, new-onset preeclampsia.