The Impact of a Lifestyle Education Program (CHIP) on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors - An Australasian Study

In 2011, 45,600 deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia (ABS, 2013). CVD causes disability and death, as well as creating a financial burden to the individual and also to the health care systems. The current treatment of CVD is a predominately medical approach involving the use of pharmaceuticals and cardiac surgery. It is widely recognized that CVD is largely a disease of comfort, caused by poor lifestyle choices (Choi, Hunter, Tsou, & Sainsbury, 2005). Given CVD’s lifestyle origins it is not surprising that an estimated 70 - 90% of coronary episodes can be avoided through positive lifestyle choices ( Aldana et al., 2006). Residential lifestyle education programs, such as those which are delivered at the Pritikin Longevity Centre, have demonstrated success in reducing CVD risk factors through lifestyle modification, however these programs are expensive and separate the participants from their “home” environment. The CHIP intervention is a lifestyle education program that can be delivered inexpensively by volunteers and operates in a community setting so that participants are educated on making positive lifestyle choices while living in their normal living environment.

Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
2014
Author:
Cheryl A Carrasco
Publisher:
Avondale Academic Press
PO Box 19
Cooranbong, NSW  2265

Phone: 61 2 4980 2233
FAX: 61 2 4980 2118
Email: robert.mciver@avondale.edu.au
URL: http://www.avondale.edu.au/research/avondale-academic-press/
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Tertiary
Audience:
Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist