The infographic is titled Chronic Disease Health Knowledge: A Survey of Older Adults Living in Ontario Social Housing. The study conducted a cross-sectional survey with a sample size of 599 with adults ages 55 plus from 16 social housing buildings across five Ontario communities used the Health Awareness and Behaviour Tool (HABiT) to measure participants’ health knowledge of heart disease and diabetes. The participants’ demographics show that the mean age is 72.2 years, 75.6 percent are female, with varying levels of education: 22 percent with less than high school education, 28.7 percent who completed high school, and 34.9 percent with higher education. Health conditions among the participants include 28.5 percent with heart disease, 34 percent with hypertension, 27.5 percent with cholesterol issues, 12.9 percent who have had a stroke, and 17.5 percent diagnosed with diabetes. The infographic illustrates that knowledge about heart disease is greater than knowledge about diabetes. It further reveals that individuals living with chronic illnesses have a better understanding of heart disease and diabetes compared to those without chronic illnesses. Additionally, it highlights that post-secondary education correlates with increased knowledge about those conditions. An illustration indicates that those who know the least about heart disease and diabetes are the following groups: smokers, people eating less fruits and vegetables, and alcohol drinkers. The infographic concludes with key takeaways, emphasizing the need for health education to reach people before they develop chronic diseases and the importance of tailoring health education to individuals with low health literacy.
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