A Feasibility Trial of a Metabolic Syndrome Intervention in Hospitalized Cardiac Patients

Brief description: The incidence of metabolic syndrome is increasing dramatically in the U.S. as obesity rates rise. Metabolic syndrome increases diabetes incidence by 5 times and doubles a person's risk of MI, stroke and death. Little is being done in tertiary care to educate patients about metabolic syndrome and lifestyle choices necessary to prevent complications. Problem statement: Because of the public health impact and high personal costs of complications, patients with metabolic syndrome need education and behavioral counseling to make difficult lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity and improved dietary habits to reduce risks associated with metabolic syndrome. Objectives: The objectives of this project are to 1) develop a metabolic syndrome education module and incorporate behavioral counseling strategies, 2) teach the module to cardiac inpatients after assessing learning needs, 3) evaluate feasibility of the intervention, including participant satisfaction, and 4) disseminate findings. Brief literature review: If metabolic syndrome is left untreated, vascular damage occurs through increased inflammation and oxidative stress, increased thrombus formation, and increased arterial stiffness. Treatment includes behavioral counseling to make lifestyle changes in increased physical activity and improved diet. The Diabetes Prevention Program curriculum has been shown to decrease type 2 diabetes incidence through increased physical activity and improved diet, but these modules have not yet been tested in a tertiary care environment. Implementation and Evaluation Plan: With content expert and project chair approval, I will develop an intervention manual using handouts from the Diabetes Prevention Program and American Diabetes Association. After obtaining consent and administering a learning needs assessment, I will implement educating inpatients at University Hospital Cardiovascular Medicine Unit. I will collect feasibility data, create and administer a satisfaction survey, and report results using descriptive statistics. Finally, I will create an abstract to submit to a local provider conference and present findings to unit educators. Summary: Metabolic syndrome education needs to be addressed early and often. Hospitalized cardiac patients with metabolic syndrome may benefit from education using behavioral counseling in order to reduce risk of long-term complications of metabolic syndrome.