As life expectancy increases, some illnesses are becoming more prevalent in this age group,
and systemic arterial hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease in
the elderly. The aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of health education
provided by nurses in the prevention of acute myocardial infarction to promote better heart
health among the elderly at the University of Maturity. This is a quasi-experimental study.
The study included 49 elderly people enrolled at the Universidade da Maturidade who, after
the application of questionnaires for identification and socio-economic characterization and
the nurse's assessment, underwent a pre-test with the assessment form on cardiovascular
health and quality of life. The educational intervention took into account the specific
requirements of the elderly population, and was carried out in an interactive and collaborative
way, with the aim of encouraging the acquisition of significant knowledge and the
incorporation of self-care practices that favor a healthy and autonomous senescence. The
participants were (57%) women and (43%) men with an average age of 69, (44.9%) were
retired. The average AQUAREL score rose from 1.725 to 2.175 after the intervention. The
domains assessed by the SF-36 pre- and post-intervention showed that functional capacity
was reduced from 97.8 to 89.9. Physical aspects increased from 96.0 to 98.6. Pain decreased
from 75.2 to 72.5. General state of health increased from 67.4 to 70.2. Vitality increased from
80.3 to 82.7. Social and emotional aspects showed some stability, while mental health rose
slightly from 95.5 to 97.8 post-intervention. The educational workshops focused on heart
health for the elderly at UMA proved to be not only an effective means of disseminating
knowledge, but also a favorable setting for exchange, reflection and mutual strengthening.
The interactivity present in these meetings challenges paradigms of the traditional educational
approach, transforming it into an enriching collective experience.
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