Cardiovascular disease education in Texas health education classes -- a needs assessment.

This study ascertained to what extent cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors are taught in public secondary health education classes in Texas, the disparity between what is taught and what is desired in terms of time allotment and educational materials, to what extent health education teachers are academically prepared to teach cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, and to what extent teachers utilize self-instructional materials. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of health education teachers in Texas. There was a return of 45.4%. The findings indicated that more time is devoted to teaching the cardiovascular system than disease and risk factors; there is a disparity between what is taught and what is desired; the teachers rated their preparation as average; and the use of self-instructional materials by high school students as average to excellent.