The evaluation of a Cardiovascular School Health Curriculum: an assessment of long-term cognitive retention and attitudinal correlates.

This study provided evidence that the Cardiovascular School Health Curriculum was successful in increasing the knowledge levels of high school students and maintaining significant portions of that knowledge during a six month period, indicating that with a strong, well developed curriculum, relatively permanent change in knowledge levels can be achieved. This was particularly gratifying to the researchers who believe that the appropriate knowledge of the cardiovascular system, heart diseases and methods of preventing heart and circulatory problems are essential foundations for having positive impact of youths' future behavioral choices. Additional longitudinal studies are planned to augment the findings of this study.