Course Description

This intermediate-level course, offered by StanfordOnline through the Stanford Center for Health Education (SCHE), focuses on managing the risks of coronary artery disease (CAD) through both nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions. The course delves into various treatment options for individuals at high risk of heart disease, exploring behavioral changes, lifestyle modifications, and medication-based approaches. Additionally, it addresses the barriers that may hinder successful implementation of these interventions and provides strategies to improve patient engagement and outcomes.

What Students Will Learn

• Determining appropriate nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments for individuals with hypertension, lipid disorders, and type 2 diabetes.
• Recommending comprehensive treatment plans to achieve healthy levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
• Recognizing and addressing barriers to behavior change.
• Identifying effective behavior change approaches that promote cardiovascular health.
• Recommending specific behavior change strategies and tools to reduce an individual's risk of CAD.
• Understanding the importance of patient engagement in successful CAD risk reduction.

Prerequisites

While the course listing states that there are no specific prerequisites, it is classified as an intermediate-level course. Therefore, a basic understanding of medical terminology and concepts related to cardiovascular health would be beneficial.

Course Content

• Nonpharmacological interventions for CAD risk management
• Pharmacological treatments for hypertension, lipid disorders, and type 2 diabetes
• Behavior change approaches for adopting healthier lifestyles
• Barriers to implementing lifestyle changes (knowledge, psychological, and socioeconomic)
• Strategies for improving patient engagement and outcomes
• Tools for healthcare providers to support patients in reducing CAD risk
• Antihypertensive medications and their effects on blood pressure
• Cardioprotective drugs for blood glucose management
• Statin and non-statin medications for lowering lipoproteins

Target Audience

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals, medical students, and individuals interested in cardiovascular health management. It would be particularly beneficial for:

1. Primary care physicians and cardiologists
2. Nurses and nurse practitioners
3. Pharmacists
4. Public health professionals
5. Health educators and coaches
6. Individuals with a personal or family history of heart disease
7. Anyone interested in learning about heart disease prevention and management

Real-World Applications

The knowledge and skills gained from this course can be applied in various real-world scenarios:

1. Healthcare professionals can use these insights to develop more effective treatment plans for patients at risk of CAD.
2. Health educators can create more targeted and impactful programs to promote heart-healthy lifestyles.
3. Individuals can make informed decisions about their own cardiovascular health and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce their risk of heart disease.
4. Public health professionals can design and implement community-wide interventions to address CAD risk factors.
5. Pharmacists can provide more comprehensive counseling to patients on medication management for CAD prevention.
6. Healthcare administrators can develop policies and programs that support CAD risk reduction in clinical settings.

Syllabus Overview

The course is likely to cover the following main topics:

1. Introduction to CAD and its risk factors
2. Nonpharmacological interventions for CAD risk management
3. Pharmacological treatments for hypertension, lipid disorders, and type 2 diabetes
4. Behavior change theories and approaches
5. Barriers to lifestyle modifications and treatment adherence
6. Strategies for improving patient engagement
7. Tools and resources for healthcare providers
8. Case studies and practical applications