Objective:

To identify and describe the instruments for assessing knowledge about risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Methods:

This is an integrative literature review conducted in the months of May 2019 and June 2020, through searches at the LILACS, MEDLINE and SciELo databases, using the descriptors knowledge, cardiovascular diseases, risk factors, prevention of diseases and validation studies. The sample included instrument validation studies, published in the years 2005 through 2019, available in Portuguese, English and Spanish, which answered the guiding question.

Results:

12 instruments were found. Most were questionnaires and addressed cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle, directed to people diagnosed with a Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and to healthy individuals. Nine instruments were developed and validated in terms of content and construct. Ten studies developed and validated questionnaires and the other studies built and validated scales. The most evaluated CVD was coronary artery disease.

Conclusion:

Instruments are indispensable strategies for measuring the level of knowledge, contributing to supporting the clinical treatment of patients, planning and evaluating educational health programs and practices.

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