Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, leading to higher rates of chronic CVDs and increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Offering women a comprehensive Information, Education, and Communication health guide can significantly help combat CVDs by enhancing their awareness regarding heart health. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of "Sukhi Hrudaya - heart health guide for women" on awareness regarding heart health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a "Sukhi Hrudaya - heart health guide for women" on awareness by using a nonprobability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from 70 women (>18 years) who visited the cardiology outpatient department of a tertiary care setting in Manipal. Women in the experimental arm received a "Sukhi Hrudaya - heart health guide for women". Post-test was performed after a week. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences software version 25.0, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The effectiveness was assessed 7 days post-test with an independent samples t-test, which revealed that there were significant differences in the awareness regarding heart health (t((68)) = 4.572, P < 0.01) between the experimental and control arms. The mean awareness regarding heart health of the experimental arm (M = 17.29, standard deviation [SD] =3.923) was higher than in the control arm (M = 13.11, SD = 3.708). After assuming equal variances, the mean difference was 4.171 (confidence interval: 5.992-2.351) at 0.05 level of significance. CONCLUSION: The positive outcomes suggest the potential integration of such interventions into broader health policies, emphasizing the need for gender-specific strategies to enhance cardiovascular health among women.