Determination of cardiovascular disease risk factors and knowledge level in university employees

Determınatıon of Cardıovascular Dısease Rısk Factors and Knowledge Level in Unıversıty Employees Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the level of knowledge of cardiovascular diseases risk factors in adults working at universities. Methods: The total number of academic and administrative staff working at a university was accepted as the population. The research is a cross-sectional study. Individuals who are the staff of a university, who do not have visual, hearing, cognitive and mental problems and who volunteered to participate in the study were included in the study. The population size (306 total academic staff and 262 total administrative staff) was found to be 231 people by calculating the sample size with 95% reliability and 5% margin of error with the sample calculation formula. 250 people participated in the research. The research was conducted at a university between February 1, 2022 and September 13, 2024. Descriptive Information Form, Nutrition Questionnaire and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: Fifty percent of the participants were academic staff, 76.8% were 40 years of age or younger, 63.2% were male and 70% were married. The mean age of the participants was 36.22±7.10 years, mean BMI was 26.25±7.76, mean height was 171.06±10.01 and mean weight was 76.20±13.45. 52.8% of the participants had an income equal to their expenses, 88.4% did not have a chronic disease and 17.21% had diabetes mellitus. 80% of the participants had no family members diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The difference in the mean score of Knowledge Level of Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors is statistically significant. The mean score of academic staff is higher. The difference in Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors Knowledge Level scale total mean score difference according to education level, income level, smoking and family health worker status is statistically significant. Conclusion: Participants' knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk was found to be at a moderate level. The research results showed that patients did not have sufficient knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors. Participants' awareness levels about risk factors that are important for heart health were limited. Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease, Risk Factors, Knowledge