ENHEARTEN

ENHEARTEN study

Enhancing Health Literacy in Secondary Prevention of Cardiac Events

Low health literacy is common in people with heart disease and may be one factor that affects people’s ability to follow a healthy lifestyle after a heart attack. Health literacy is more than just the ability to read and understand health information (known as ‘functional’ health literacy); it also includes the skills and resources people need to judge health information and access and engage with health services and providers. There are many gaps in evidence for the role of health literacy in heart disease. The ENHEARTEN study aims to address this through:

  1. Exploring the relationship between health literacy and all-cause unplanned hospital admissions in 450 patients at 6 months following their first heart attack (primary outcome);
  2. Exploring the relationship between health literacy and a number of other health outcomes in this cohort at 30 days, 6 months and/or 12 months following their first heart attack and;
  3. Identifying factors that may act as pathways between health literacy and health outcomes.

This multi-centre, prospective observational study investigates the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes in 450 adults admitted with their first heart attack across three metropolitan health services (Monash Health, Northern Health, Austin Health) and one rural service (Grampians Health) in Victoria. Patients with their first heart attack, aged 18 or above were included if they could understand one of the following languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Italian or Vietnamese. Participant recruitment started in November 2021 and was completed in January 2024.

The ENHEARTEN study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Progress

  • In January 2024, we recruited our last participant - this means we now have 450 people recruited into the study.
  • 6-month follow-up completed in July 2024
  • 12-month follow-up expected to be completed by the end of January 2025
  • Data linkage at 24 months from baseline (2026)

Timeline of the ENHEARTEN study

News: ENHEARTEN

Study to improve messaging for better heart health

Research team

Graduate research opportunities

The ENHEARTEN provides a range of opportunities for graduate research students looking for rewarding honours, masters or PhD projects.

Current projects:

Partners

ENHEARTEN sponsors

Contact

A/Prof Alison Beauchamp
ENHEARTEN Primary Investigator
Phone: +61 414 411 296
Email: alison.beauchamp@monash.edu

Dr Jason Talevski
ENHEARTEN Project Manager
Phone: +61 401 679 657
Email: jason.talevski@monash.edu