The Role of Health Education in Reducing Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors: A Systematic Review

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the 10 leading causes of death in the world and the first leading cause of death in Iran. Controlling the risk factors for these diseases can reduce more than 50% of disabilities resulted from these illnesses. In this regard، it is important to consider the behaviors associated with individuals’ lifestyles. The purpose of this study is to review the studies that have used educational interventions in order to reduce risk factors of cardiovascular diseases، based on methods، application of models، and theories of health education and health promotion and the effect of intervention on reducing risk factors. Electronic search of databases was performed using the key words in English and Persian. Databases reviewed were، Scientific Information Database (SID)، Iran Medex، PubMed، Ebsco and Cochrane. The databases search was conducted from February 2012 to May 2012. Interventions to reduce risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were divided into two types based on use of models and theories of health education and without use of models and theories of health education. In the 19 articles reviewed، 9 studies were conducted based on theories and models of health education،and 10 studies did not use theories and models of health education. The results indicate that training based on theories and models of health education and using the standardized programs have a greater impact on reducing risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Time، place and length of intervention، the characteristics of the individuals and use of modern methods of training are important for some of the audience with regard to the effectiveness of the training in order to reduce risk factors.