Non-Veterans Affairs primary care staff knowledge and attitudes regarding women veterans' cardiovascular health.

Background: Despite burgeoning evidence of elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among women veterans, relatively little is known about the current state of knowledge among non-Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care staff regarding CVD risk and care among women veterans. Methods: This study assessed primary care staff within a large statewide, private, nonprofit hospital system to determine their baseline knowledge of general CVD risk factors and those specific to women veterans. We also evaluated staff awareness of their patients' veteran status, attitudes regarding health promotion and prevention practices, and perceptions of barriers to health promotion. Results: As hypothesized, primary care staff demonstrated strong knowledge of general CVD risk factors, but most showed poor to moderate knowledge of women veteran-specific CVD risk factors. Further, only a minority of respondents reported knowing their female patients' veteran status, highlighting an important care gap for this population. Conclusions: The current study highlights a knowledge gap among non-VA primary care staff that may contribute to the CVD diagnostic gap for women veterans. Implications for assessment and intervention in the primary care setting are discussed.