Evaluación del nivel de acceso a nuevas tecnologías y conocimiento del riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes cardiópatas hospitalizados

Objective: to determine the level of access to internet among patients with cardiac conditions hospitalized at the Ferrol Area, Galicia (Spain), and to state their level of self-knowledge of cardiovascular risk (CVR) based on their estimated real cardiovascular risk. Secondary endpoints: To assess those factors related to a higher use of web resources, and to analyze those factors associated with a better knowledge of their CVR. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study with patients admitted to the Cardiology Unit in one month (n= 106). Sociodemographic variables were collected, as well as frequency of internet access and CVR factors. The real CVR was calculated, and compared with their self-perceived risk. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and the Chi Square test or Fisher’s Exact Test was used to analyze the association between different variables and their level of access to internet. Results: the age of the 89 patients included was 64.6 (SD:12.3) years, 76.4% were male, with basic education (58.4%) and married (75.3%). Out of these, 40.6% stated that they never accessed internet, 18% did it occasionally, 11.2% frequently, and 30.3% did it every day. The use of web resources was significantly higher in younger patients and those with higher education. Only 19.1% calculated their CVR correctly, and no factor was found to determine a higher knowledge of CVR. Conclusion: health Education is necessary and must be improved; however, the use of web resources cannot be considered currently the only tool in this health area.