Know diabetes by heart: Education about the linkage between cardiovascular disease and diabetes

The objective of this study was to investigate how a 1-hour education session that highlights American Heart Association/American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes by Heart (KDBH) messaging changed the knowledge and behavioural intention of participants. Single group, quasi-experimental study evaluating the impact of the KDBH education intervention on participants’ knowledge and intentions to engage in risk-lowering behaviours related to the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A free, 1-hour, synchronously delivered education session was offered through an online platform and facilitated by Cooperative Extension agents. A pre- and post-Qualtrics survey was used to assess changes in knowledge and intended behaviours. Slides were provided by the American Diabetes Association and tailored for clarification and evaluation purposes. The study included 259 adults with an average age of 54 years (standard deviation [ SD] = 16.67) and 72.97% being 46 years or older. When participants were asked if having type 2 diabetes put them at risk for development of hypertension, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart attack, or stroke, 84.84% answered correctly at baseline. After session completion, the percentage correct increased to 92.2% ( p = .002). Individual’s knowledge of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes was assessed; 66.80% answered correctly pre-intervention. After completing the KDBH programme, 95.37% answered correctly ( p = .001). In addition, more than half of those with type 2 diabetes reported intended to adopt several behaviours related to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease at the completion of the programme. The pilot study indicates successful information transfer in a 1-hour education session focused on chronic disease risks associated with T2DM. Results support the use of synchronous online platforms for diabetes and heart disease information transfer. Future prospective studies measuring sustained knowledge, behaviour adoption and incidence of heart-disease before and after education are needed.