COMPARISON OF EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES REGARDING UNDERSTANDING OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND PERCEPTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of mortality worldwide and are strongly associated with atherosclerosis. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of different educational strategies in improving understanding of atherosclerosis and the perception of cardiovascular risk. This is an integrative literature review conducted through searches in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases. The descriptors “atherosclerosis,” “health education,” and “cardiovascular risk” were used in combination with the Boolean operators AND and OR. The inclusion criteria comprised articles published between 2014 and 2025, available in full text, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. After applying the eligibility criteria, 10 studies comprised the final sample. The results showed that educational videos are more effective in improving understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis, whereas cardiovascular risk calculators have a greater impact on the perception of individual risk. In addition, combined strategies demonstrated better outcomes by promoting both knowledge and motivation for behavioral changes. It is concluded that the combination of different educational approaches enhances health education initiatives, contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and strengthening self-care.