African American Community Health Project on Cardiovascular Disease

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators seek to demonstrate that interactive physician-led education through partnership with an African American church will improve awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease in the African American community and will result in objective improvement in major risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Detailed Description
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Cardiovascular disease causes significant morbidity and mortality in the African American community. Among African Americans adults almost 1/3 have hypertension, 1/10 have heart disease, 1/20 have coronary heart disease, and 1/30 have had a stroke. Compared to their Caucasian American counterparts, African Americans are 3 times more times as likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than Caucasians, 1.5 times more likely to die from heart failure, and 1.8 times more likely to die from stroke. In addition, both lower socioeconomic position and minority race/ethnicity are associated with poorer health and shortened survival. These alarming statistics highlight the health disparities in the African American community. In our study, the investigators propose that interactive physician-led education through partnership with an African American church will improve awareness and knowledge of CVD in the African American community and will result in objective improvement in major risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

Official Title
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African American Community Health Project on Cardiovascular Disease (AACP-CVD)

Conditions
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Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: lecture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: African American adults > 18 years old

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cardiovascular Disease Education<br>6 lectures on cardiovascular disease were given over a 2 month time period | Behavioral: lecture<br>* 6 lectures on cardiovascular disease covering obesity, diet & exercise, smoking cessation, coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blood pressure | Change after educational series | 2 months | 
| Weight | Change after educational series | 2 months | 
| Body mass index | Change after educational series | 2 months | 
| Waist Circumference | Change after educational series | 2 months | 
| Multiple choice test on cardiovascular disease | The multiple choice test is a 25-question test on general cardiovascular disease knowledge. It covers diet, exercise, smoking, obesity, coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. This test is given at the start of the study and after the educational intervention. The overall test scores are compared by percentage correct. The individual questions are examined for group knowledge level on a particular topic. For example, the % correct of the group on a question about diabetes would reflect knowledge of diabetes. | 2 months |