CORAZÓN SALUDABLE: CARDIOVASCULAR RISK OF A COLOMBIAN HOSPITAL'S PERSONNEL AND MHEALTH TOOLS IN PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes high morbidity and mortality worldwide, therefore primary prevention is central to reduce the disease burden. Technologies based on (mobile health) mhealth and personalized medicine could improve the strategies of prevention, when properly designed with features and nudges for specific populations. In Colombia, low education is a good predictor of CVD incidence and mortality; therefore a population with proper education about CVD, should have better health outcomes. A cardiovascular-centered hospital is a natural environment for CVD prevention and education, especially for personnel. The research questions were: Being staff of a cardiovascular centered hospital positively influences their cardiovascular health?. A mhealth tool specifically designed for this population could educate about modifiable risk factors to improve their cardiovascular health? The novel contribution is that we found that working in a cardiovascular-centered hospital, as medical or administrative staff, does not always positively influence personnel habits related to CVD prevention, as compared to national statistics. We hypothesize that the associated occupational factors of healthcare work (high stress, long shifts, workload, lack of time, fears and stigmas) and administrative work (sedentary lifestyle) undermined the benefits of having more CVD information and education. Better strategies to translate education and self-awareness of CVD danger into self-care agency and self-efficiency; such as reduce friction and stigmatization at the workplace, facilitate health access, improve privacy, and aligned nudges; are needed.