Examination of the knowledge level of cardiovascular disease risk factors among students of bingöl university faculty of sport sciences

The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge levels of students studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors and to examine these knowledge levels in terms of various demographic variables. A total of 230 students, including 72 women and 158 men, aged between 18 and 32, who were studying at Bingöl University's Faculty of Sports Sciences during the fall semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, participated in the study. A personal information form targeting the students' demographic characteristics and the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL) scale were used in the research. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 29.00 package, and skewness and kurtosis tests were conducted to determine the normality distribution. After normality was confirmed, independent sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson Correlation analyses were applied. According to the findings of the study, students who answered "yes" to having a close relative with heart disease had significantly higher scores on the risk factors subscale of the CARRF-KL (p=0.042). The department of study also influenced these results, with students in the teaching and coaching departments scoring significantly higher in the characteristics of cardiovascular diseases subscale compared to those in the management department (p=0.010). Additionally, a positive significant relationship was found between age and the characteristics of cardiovascular diseases subscale (p=0.020). In conclusion, the presence of individuals with heart disease in a student's close circle, the department they study in, and their age are important factors that affect their knowledge levels regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors.