A survey of coronary risk factors and B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in cardiac nurses from Europe: do nurses still practice what they preach?

TY - JOUR

T1 - A survey of coronary risk factors and B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in cardiac nurses from Europe: do nurses still practice what they preach?

AU - Jaarsma, Tiny

AU - Stewart, Simon

AU - De Geest, Sabina

AU - Fridlund, Bengt

AU - Heikkila, Johanna

AU - Martensson, Jan

AU - Moons, Philip

AU - Scholte op Reimer, Wilma

AU - Smith, Karen

AU - Stromberg, Anna

AU - Thompson, David R.

N1 - dc.publisher: Elsevier Resulting from a collaboration of high profile European cardiovascular nurse researchers representing 7 countries (UNITE – undertaking nursing interventions throughout Europe) who are part of the science council in the European Society of Cardiology Council of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Health Professionals. Excellent dissemination vehicle. Research Group 2 - Psychosocial Determinants of Wellbeing in Community & Healthcare.

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - Background: From a previous survey of cardiac nurses attending a scientific conference, we learned that these nurses adopted a healthier lifestyle than the general population. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the overall profile of cardiac risk factors in a similar cohort and determine whether cardiac nurses continue to ‘practice what they preach’ in this regard. Secondly, we examined the practical value of screening a large cohort of individuals within a short time frame (total of 8 hours screening time) and determined the range of BNP concentrations within a ‘healthy’ cohort. Methods: Data on CHD risk factors were collected with a short self-report questionnaire. The sample consisted of 122 cardiac nurses from 19 countries attending a European cardiac nursing conference held in Stockholm. A venous blood sample was collected into a tube containing potassium ETDA. B-type natriuretic peptide was measured on-site with the use of a portable fluorescence immunoassay kit. Results: Most participants were female (89%). Participants ranged in age from 23 to 60 years with a mean age of 41 (S.D. 9.4). Eleven percent – all female – reported they were current smokers, 27% (34) had a BMI >25 and 27% of the sample stated they did not exercise regularly. Almost half (48%) of the sample reported a family history of CHD. As expected, all BNP-values were within the normal range. There were significant differences in BNP on the basis of sex (P<0.05) and age (P<0.05) and a trend towards increasing BNP concentrations with progressively higher BMI scores (P=0.06). Conclusion: This study reconfirms the likelihood that many cardiac nurses heed their own advice on lifestyle modification to reduce cardiovascular risk and therefore provide a good role model for the promotion of primary and secondary prevention initiatives.

AB - Background: From a previous survey of cardiac nurses attending a scientific conference, we learned that these nurses adopted a healthier lifestyle than the general population. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the overall profile of cardiac risk factors in a similar cohort and determine whether cardiac nurses continue to ‘practice what they preach’ in this regard. Secondly, we examined the practical value of screening a large cohort of individuals within a short time frame (total of 8 hours screening time) and determined the range of BNP concentrations within a ‘healthy’ cohort. Methods: Data on CHD risk factors were collected with a short self-report questionnaire. The sample consisted of 122 cardiac nurses from 19 countries attending a European cardiac nursing conference held in Stockholm. A venous blood sample was collected into a tube containing potassium ETDA. B-type natriuretic peptide was measured on-site with the use of a portable fluorescence immunoassay kit. Results: Most participants were female (89%). Participants ranged in age from 23 to 60 years with a mean age of 41 (S.D. 9.4). Eleven percent – all female – reported they were current smokers, 27% (34) had a BMI >25 and 27% of the sample stated they did not exercise regularly. Almost half (48%) of the sample reported a family history of CHD. As expected, all BNP-values were within the normal range. There were significant differences in BNP on the basis of sex (P<0.05) and age (P<0.05) and a trend towards increasing BNP concentrations with progressively higher BMI scores (P=0.06). Conclusion: This study reconfirms the likelihood that many cardiac nurses heed their own advice on lifestyle modification to reduce cardiovascular risk and therefore provide a good role model for the promotion of primary and secondary prevention initiatives.

KW - B-type natriuretic peptide

KW - Cardiovascular risk factors

KW - Nurses

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2004.01.005

DO - 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2004.01.005

M3 - Article

C2 - 15053883

SN - 1474-5151

VL - 3

SP - 3

EP - 6

JO - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

JF - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

IS - 1

ER -