Public Awareness of and Action towards Heart Attack Symptoms: An Exploratory Study
Abdullah Abdulmajid Abdo Ahmed1, Abdulkareem Mohammed Al-Shami1, Shazia Jamshed1,2
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Pahang, Malaysia.
Insights
Public awareness of heart attack (HA) symptoms and appropriate actions in Malaysia is alarmingly low. Most individuals only recognize chest pain, with very few aware of all five key HA symptoms or knowing to call an ambulance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiology
- Health Awareness
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading global cause of mortality, with Malaysia experiencing similar trends.
- Understanding public awareness of heart attack (HA) symptoms and response actions is crucial for improving health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the level of symptom awareness and necessary response actions for heart attacks (HA) among the general public in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 393 members of the general public in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
- Data collection occurred between May and July 2018, focusing on recognition of HA symptoms and intended actions.
Main Results:
- Only 26.35% recognized non-chest pain HA symptoms (jaw, neck, back), while 71.65% identified only chest pain.
- A mere 35.6% would call an ambulance for someone with HA symptoms; only 11.5% recognized all five symptoms, and 1.3% recognized all correctly.
- Diabetes and hypercholesteremia were linked to better symptom recognition. Information receipt significantly increased awareness (OR 7.540), while awareness of HA's urgency decreased it (OR 0.176).
Conclusions:
- Public awareness of heart attack signs, symptoms, and appropriate actions in Malaysia is significantly poor.
- Targeted public health initiatives are needed to improve recognition of diverse HA symptoms and promote timely emergency responses.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and Malaysia is not an exception in this regard. The current research is an attempt to explore symptom awareness of and necessary actions in response to heart attack (HA) among lay public.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study design, and a survey was conducted from May to July 2018 among general public in Kuantan, Pahang state, Malaysia.
Results:
A total of 393 respondents recruited. Slightly more than one-fourth of the respondents (26.35%) were aware of HA symptoms like pain and/or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, while 71.65% showed awareness only of chest pain or discomfort as symptoms. Only 35.6% reported to call an ambulance if they experience someone suffering from HA symptoms, while 82% recognized ≥1 symptom, and only 11.5% recognized all five HA symptoms. Very few respondents, i.e., 1.3% reported awareness about correct recognition of all five HA symptoms. Respondents who had diabetes and hypercholesteremia were more likely to recognize all five HA symptoms. For those who had excellent awareness of all five HA symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) were significantly higher among single respondents (OR 0.023; 95% CI 0.001-0.594), Malay (OR 0.376; 95% CI 0.193-0.733), and those who received information associated with HA (OR 7.540; 95% CI 2.037-27.914). However, those who were aware that HA requires quick treatment had significantly low odds ratio (OR 0.176; 95% CI 0.044-0.710).
Conclusions:
The awareness of and action towards the signs and symptoms of HA among the public were poor.
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