Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society
Year 2018, Volume 30, Issue 3, Pages 25-33
https://doi.org/10.26715/jbms.3_2512a2018Shooq Alsooreti1*, Batool Alalawi2, Hesa Abdulkarim1, Sara Mohamed1, Wafa AlSharbati3
1Medical Doctor, MD, Primary Care Physician, Bank Bahrain and Kuwait Hid Health Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain
2Medical Doctor, MD, Primary Care Physician, Al Dair Health Centre
3Medical Consultant, Primary Care Consultant, Public health Consultant, Public Health Directorate, Ministry Of Health
*Corresponding author:
Shooq Alsooreti, Medical Doctor, MD, Primary Care Physician, Bank Bahrain and Kuwait Hid Health Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain; Tel: (+973) 36195556, Email: Alshoooq_16@hotmail.com
Received date: August 10, 2018; Accepted date: December 25, 2018; Published date: December 31, 2018
Abstract
Background and objectives: Worldwide, mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a concern of great magnitude. The mortality rate in Bahrain, due to CVD, was 19.5%, 32%, and 21.5% in the years 2005, 2011, and 2013, respectively. The objective was to assess the awareness of Bahraini adults of the early warning symptoms of heart attack (HA) and the need to activate rapid emergency care by calling 999 once recognized.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study included 400 Bahraini adult patients attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain. Respondents were asked to identify the five warning symptoms of a HA and the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA. HA knowledge score was calculated for each respondent. The study was approved by Bahrain Public Health Research Committee.
Results: Based on the evaluation of the knowledge scores of HA symptoms, 71.9% and 28.1% of the participants scored poor and good level of knowledge. In the study, the most recognized symptom of HA was chest pain (70.9%) followed by shortness of breath (60%). In response to the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA, only 59.5% reported that they would contact the emergency services.
Conclusion: The level of public awareness about HA symptoms in Bahrain is poor. Community campaigns are required to increase public health knowledge.
Keywords: Chest pain, Heart attack, Knowledge, Public awareness, Symptom