Degree and correlates of cardiac knowledge and awareness among cardiac inpatients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Health Education

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
• Assessing patient knowledge is vital for effective disease management and prevention strategies.
• Understanding knowledge gaps can inform targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the extent of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) awareness and knowledge among cardiac inpatients.
• To identify sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with CHD knowledge.
• To inform educational strategies for improving patient understanding of CHD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1308 inpatients with CHD across 11 acute care sites in Ontario.
• Data collection included a survey with a knowledge questionnaire and extraction of clinical data from medical charts.
• Analysis examined correlations between patient characteristics and CHD knowledge levels.

Main Results:

• While 68.8% recognized heart disease as a leading cause of death in men, only 37.0% identified it for women.
• Lower educational attainment, income below $50,000 CAD, reduced functional capacity, current smoking, no family history of CHD, and low perceived personal control were linked to poorer CHD knowledge.
• Significant associations (p<.001) were found for education, family history, and perception of control.

Conclusions:

• Overall awareness of CHD is not optimal, with notable disparities among women, South Asian populations, and individuals of low socioeconomic status.
• Cardiac patients demonstrate a moderate level of disease knowledge, indicating a need for enhanced patient education.
• Tailored educational interventions focusing on CHD, diagnostic tests, and treatment options are recommended for specific patient groups, especially those with lower socioeconomic status.