Abstract
Background: Dyslipidemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is more prevalent in middle-aged women than in men of the same age in Korea. This study, the first national survey that focused on cholesterol in Korean women, aimed to: (1) assess their awareness and knowledge of cholesterol, (2) evaluate their risk reduction behavior, and (3) examine differences in these variables among geographical regions in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey study was conducted in a randomly selected national sample of 1304 Korean women, aged 40-64 years in 3 geographic regions. Results: High cholesterol was identified as a cause of CVD by 54.4% of respondents, however, 95.4% did not know their own values. Only 4.1% of respondents were aware of desirable level of total cholesterol. Eight percent of respondents perceived correctly the meaning of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as good cholesterol. And 32.9% had cholesterol check at least once a year. No significant regional differences were found in women's awareness and knowledge on cholesterol. No smoking (93.6%), low salt diet (52.5%) and weight management (50.6%) were the most prevalent risk reduction behaviors. Women in the rural area performed less risk reduction behaviors than those in urban area. Conclusions: Given the low level of awareness and knowledge about cholesterol in these women, nurses need to increase their education about cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors of CVD for middle-aged Korean women, particularly those in rural area. To resolve identified disparities in women's risk reduction behaviors between the rural and urban area, a national-level health policy can result in a successful effort to promote women's awareness of cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors for the cardiovascular health of the public.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 452-460 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | International Journal of Nursing Studies |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 Apr 1 |
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- Nursing(all)
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Middle-aged women's awareness of cholesterol as a risk factor : Results from a national survey of Korean Middle-aged Women's Health Awareness (KomWHA) study. / Choi, Eun Jin; Jekal, Yoonsuk; Kim, Sue; Yoo, Ji Soo; Kim, Hee Soon; Oh, Eui Geum; Jeon, Justin Y.; Jang, Yangsoo; Chu, Sang Hui; Kim, Mi Ja.
In: International Journal of Nursing Studies, Vol. 47, No. 4, 01.04.2010, p. 452-460.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Middle-aged women's awareness of cholesterol as a risk factor
T2 - Results from a national survey of Korean Middle-aged Women's Health Awareness (KomWHA) study
AU - Choi, Eun Jin
AU - Jekal, Yoonsuk
AU - Kim, Sue
AU - Yoo, Ji Soo
AU - Kim, Hee Soon
AU - Oh, Eui Geum
AU - Jeon, Justin Y.
AU - Jang, Yangsoo
AU - Chu, Sang Hui
AU - Kim, Mi Ja
PY - 2010/4/1
Y1 - 2010/4/1
N2 - Background: Dyslipidemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is more prevalent in middle-aged women than in men of the same age in Korea. This study, the first national survey that focused on cholesterol in Korean women, aimed to: (1) assess their awareness and knowledge of cholesterol, (2) evaluate their risk reduction behavior, and (3) examine differences in these variables among geographical regions in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey study was conducted in a randomly selected national sample of 1304 Korean women, aged 40-64 years in 3 geographic regions. Results: High cholesterol was identified as a cause of CVD by 54.4% of respondents, however, 95.4% did not know their own values. Only 4.1% of respondents were aware of desirable level of total cholesterol. Eight percent of respondents perceived correctly the meaning of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as good cholesterol. And 32.9% had cholesterol check at least once a year. No significant regional differences were found in women's awareness and knowledge on cholesterol. No smoking (93.6%), low salt diet (52.5%) and weight management (50.6%) were the most prevalent risk reduction behaviors. Women in the rural area performed less risk reduction behaviors than those in urban area. Conclusions: Given the low level of awareness and knowledge about cholesterol in these women, nurses need to increase their education about cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors of CVD for middle-aged Korean women, particularly those in rural area. To resolve identified disparities in women's risk reduction behaviors between the rural and urban area, a national-level health policy can result in a successful effort to promote women's awareness of cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors for the cardiovascular health of the public.
AB - Background: Dyslipidemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is more prevalent in middle-aged women than in men of the same age in Korea. This study, the first national survey that focused on cholesterol in Korean women, aimed to: (1) assess their awareness and knowledge of cholesterol, (2) evaluate their risk reduction behavior, and (3) examine differences in these variables among geographical regions in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey study was conducted in a randomly selected national sample of 1304 Korean women, aged 40-64 years in 3 geographic regions. Results: High cholesterol was identified as a cause of CVD by 54.4% of respondents, however, 95.4% did not know their own values. Only 4.1% of respondents were aware of desirable level of total cholesterol. Eight percent of respondents perceived correctly the meaning of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as good cholesterol. And 32.9% had cholesterol check at least once a year. No significant regional differences were found in women's awareness and knowledge on cholesterol. No smoking (93.6%), low salt diet (52.5%) and weight management (50.6%) were the most prevalent risk reduction behaviors. Women in the rural area performed less risk reduction behaviors than those in urban area. Conclusions: Given the low level of awareness and knowledge about cholesterol in these women, nurses need to increase their education about cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors of CVD for middle-aged Korean women, particularly those in rural area. To resolve identified disparities in women's risk reduction behaviors between the rural and urban area, a national-level health policy can result in a successful effort to promote women's awareness of cholesterol and risk reduction behaviors for the cardiovascular health of the public.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77549083346&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.09.002
DO - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.09.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 19819450
AN - SCOPUS:77549083346
VL - 47
SP - 452
EP - 460
JO - International Journal of Nursing Studies
JF - International Journal of Nursing Studies
SN - 0020-7489
IS - 4
ER -