What is it about?
This commentary discusses a study on the effects of educating patients about cardiovascular disease risk factors. It found that education led to improvements in meeting ideal health targets but not enough to reach goals the American Heart Association set. The author suggests additional strategies like financial incentives, laws, reminder systems, and frequent patient feedback may be needed alongside education.
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Why is it important?
This commentary highlights the need for comprehensive approaches beyond educating patients to improve population cardiovascular health. It emphasizes that knowledge alone is often insufficient to change behaviors. The discussion is timely as countries aim to reduce cardiovascular mortality rates.
Perspectives
As a physician reviewing this study, I agree education is important but typically inadequate to drive major population-level changes in health habits. People need ongoing motivation through positive and negative reinforcements. Technology like phone apps could help by providing frequent reminders and feedback. Government policies should align incentives toward healthy behaviors. Doctors play a role by reinforcing key messages at every visit. Comprehensive strategies are required to empower patients with knowledge while providing support systems promoting tangible lifestyle improvements.
Thomas F Heston MD
University of Washington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Commentary on “Effect of Patients’ Awareness of CVD Risk Factors on Health-Related Behaviors”, Southern Medical Journal, November 2013, Southern Medical Association,
DOI: 10.1097/smj.0000000000000014.
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