Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term that encompasses heart disease and stroke and remains the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States and worldwide. Although this burden is well documented, awareness of CVD risk factors and prevention strategies is often limited at the local level, particularly among rural and underserved populations in Oklahoma, where elevated cardiovascular risk and mortality persist.
The My Heart OK advocacy plan aims to bridge CVD-related disparities in Oklahoma through patient-centered, nurse-led educational outreach designed to increase awareness of disease burden, risk profiles, symptom recognition, and lifestyle modification. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the initiative promotes equitable CVD prevention through accessible, culturally adaptable, evidence-based educational resources and policy advocacy.
The advocacy plan focuses on improving education and awareness, advocating for policy changes, and establishing measurable outcomes. Educational initiatives emphasize that approximately 80% of premature CVD deaths are preventable through increased access to care, screening, healthier dietary choices, and physical activity. Resources such as the American Heart Association Prevent risk calculator, the World Health Organization HEARTS app, and Life's Essential 8 framework can help individuals identify risk factors and make informed lifestyle changes. Policy recommendations include school wellness curricula, smoke- and vape-free zones, blood pressure screening access, healthy food initiatives, workplace wellness programs, insurance coverage for preventive screenings, safe community walking paths, and sponsored exercise events.
By World Heart Day, the initiative seeks to increase awareness of CVD risk factors, improve recognition of cardiovascular symptoms, and encourage adoption of heart-healthy behaviors among adults in Oklahoma. Through partnerships with organizations including the WHO, CDC, American Heart Association, Sigma, Rotary International, and the Oklahoma Heart Institute, this nurse-led advocacy plan demonstrates a collaborative approach to advancing cardiovascular health and reducing health disparities.
Notes
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*Katherine Pallas was a participant in a 2026 cohort of Sigma's Global Advocacy Mini Virtual Academy
Academy Faculty Advisor: Janice Hawkins, PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN
Sigma Membership
Pi Phi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cohort
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Nurse-Led Advocacy, Patient Advocacy, Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, Public Health Nursing, Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations), Patient Education, Community Outreach, Outreach Programs
Advisor
Janice Hawkins
Recommended Citation
Downing, Lucille J.; De Souza, Estevao F.; and Pallas, Katherine M., "Global Advocacy Plan: My Heart OK" (2026). Global Advocacy. 27.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/ga_series/27
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
None: Event Material, Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-10-15
Full Text of Presentation
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