Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

• Akbar Rouzbahani ¹
• Reza Rouzbahani ²
• Hossein Rouzbahani ³
• Maryam Barkhordar ³
• Fatemeh Rouzbahani ⁴
• Marzie Rezaei ⁵
• Farahnaz Rezaei ⁶
• Mohammad Reza Malek Ahmadi ⁷

¹ MD, Researcher, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Kiyar Health Network, Imam Javad Hospital, Naghan.

² MD, MPH, Community Medicine Specialist, Researcher, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.

³ MD, Internal Medicine Resident, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz.

⁴ MSc, Researcher, Department of Food Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan.

⁵ MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.

⁶ Bc, Researcher, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.

⁷ MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord.

Abstract

Abstract    BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular health promotion in children has the ability to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in both child and the community. Thus it seems reasonable to initiate healthful lifestyle training in childhood to promote improved cardiovascular health in adult life. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that a one - year, classroom – based education for the third, fourth and fifth elementary school graders could change their knowledge scores about healthy heart.    METHODS: It was a randomized and interventional study in elementary schools of Shahr-e-kord / Iran in 2006-2007. A total of 8 elementary schools, categorized by socioeconomic types and male and female setting, were selected and randomized into control or intervention groups. Subjects were 920 third, fourth and fifth graders, aged 9 to 11 years (50% boys and 50% girls). Over a course of 8 weeks, health educators and general practitioner of the elementary schools presented two hours sessions per week on heart function, nutrition, and exercise for healthy heart and living tobacco free for the intervention group. The education program was based on Heart Power! Program, an American Heart Association program. Statistical analysis tests wrere: Mann – Whitney U test and Wilcoxon matched- pairs signed rank test and Bonferroni correction for the two pair wise comparisons    RESULTS: Total heart knowledge at post test was increased 40% in the intervention group (P<0.01). Difference in means of total healthy heart knowledge scores between control and intervention group increased from 12.4 points in baseline to 24.6 points in post test ( total score was 30). Attitude in intervention group changed from 32% to 63.9% after post test (P<0.01). After general and heart examination, we found 69 students who had abnormal heart sounds and finally by referred to pediatric cardiologist, for 18 them heart diseases were diagnosed.    CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the classroom – based cardiovascular health promotion had a significant effect on the healthy heart knowledge. Therefore, schools provide an excellent setting for introducing comprehensive healthy heart education and promotion of cardiovascular health to the general population.      Keywords: Healthy heart, Elementary school students, Children, School based education, Knowledge, Attitude, Cardiovascular diseases.