Abstract P3126: A Community-Based Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Health Understanding in the Dallas-Fort Worth South Asian Community

Introduction: The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) South Asian (SA) community has grown to over 235,000 and represents a demographic with disproportionately high incidences of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Hypothesis: A community-initiated educational program will significantly improve cardiovascular health knowledge, motivation, and preventive practices among the SA population in DFW. Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we designed, implemented, and assessed an educational program delivered by a cardiologist and nutritionist through seminars and digital media. The 1.5-hour program provided information on CVD risk factors, dietary and lifestyle modifications, regular health screenings, and a question-and-answer session. Effectiveness was assessed with the South Asian Needs and Gaps Assessment Tool (SANGAT) survey before and after, measuring knowledge and motivation on a 5-point Likert scale (1=very low to 5=very high) and preventive actions. Descriptive statistics characterized the data. Results: A total of 92 community members attended the program with 126 assessments collected (74 before; 52 after). Participants included 58.1% females (age 49.1±15.9 years). Knowledge Improvements: All areas showed significant improvements (p<0.001). Overall heart health understanding had an increase in "above average" and "very high" ratings from 36.1% to 73.1%. Knowledge of heart disease risk factors improved from 34.3% to 69.2%. Importance of diet saw the most significant gains, with "above average" and "very high" ratings more than doubling (35.7% to 76.9%). Awareness of physical activity benefits rose from 46.5% to 78.8%. Motivational Shifts: Significant increases were observed in all motivation categories, including overall heart health priority, diet improvement, and regular physical activity (p<0.001). The percentage of participants rating their motivation as "very high" doubled, with "above average" and "very high" ratings totaling 84.6% across all areas. Behavioral Changes: Top planned actions included increased physical activity (50.0%), better nutrition (30.8%), weight loss (15.4%), and proactive heart health measures (7.7%). Conclusions: This culturally informed, community-driven approach enhanced health literacy, fostering sustainable lifestyle changes to help reduce health disparities. Future studies should address genetic and metabolic predispositions and evaluate the success of these interventions on health outcomes.