Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Perceived Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome among Jordanian Patients

Abstract

Background: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)-associated mortality is considered high and still raising, where outcomes can be improved through immediate treatment initiation. Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and perceived risk are cognitive factors that can affect patient's decision to seek care immediately. Therefore, this study aimed to explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceived risk for future ACS event among Jordanian ACS patients. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was used to conveniently recruit 160 ACS patients from CCUs and medical floors at three Jordanian hospitals using the Modified ACS Response Questionnaire. Results: Almost, 65% of participants had low level of ACS knowledge, specifically regarding untraditional ACS symptoms. Some negative attitudes and beliefs toward ACS were found. There was a moderate positive correlation between knowledge score and all of attitudes, beliefs and perceived risk score (r = 0.549, p < 0.01, r = 0.563, p < 0.01, r = 0.545, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Inadequate ACS knowledge, negative attitudes and beliefs toward ACS were associated with low perceived risk for future ACS event. Therefore, it is a priority to develop strategies that consider improving ACS patients' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and perceived risk. This could be effective to enhance patient's decision to seek care and reduce ominous outcomes.

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and responses of type 2 diabetes clients toward acute coronary syndrome

“…Our results support other authors findings about the lack of knowledge among people who are at high risk for heart attack (O'Brien et al, 2012;Noureddine et al, 2020). However, participants of our study showed lower mean score of knowledge than participants of other studies carried out in Ireland (O'Brien et al, 2012) and in Jordan (Alfasfos et al, 2016), that found, respectively, a mean score of 17.8 (S.D.=3.6) and 16 (S.D.=3.6).…”

Knowledge and Socioeconomic Status as The Factors of Pre-hospital Delay in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

“…This was not caused by the income but due to the patient's awareness in seeking treatment when ACS attacks occur in which the patient decides to rest, buy non-prescribed medications, and the presumption that the perceived symptoms are common so that particular treatment is not necessary. Alfasfos N, et al, (2016) believed that knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of respondents are able to influence the Yusniawati, Y.N.P. et al Knowledge and Socioeconomic Status as The Factors of ............................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................................................…”

Recognizing a Heart Attack: Patients’ Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Its Relation to Prehospital Decision Delay in Acute Coronary Syndrome

“…That is, they often show unrealistic optimism bias, which can reduce the accuracy of their risk appraisals and delay their help-seeking behavior ( Weinstein, 1982 ; Blumenthal-Barby and Krieger, 2015 ). Previous research further showed that ACS patients tend to be overly optimistic regarding their risk of cardiovascular events ( Dracup et al, 2008 ; Alfasfos et al, 2016 ; Thakkar et al, 2016 ). The current study raises the possibility that more accurate knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors might contribute to better decision making in patients with ACS by accurately increasing their perceived risk of suffering a cardiac event ( Lefler and Bondy, 2004 ; Darawad et al, 2016 ), reducing the typical unrealistically optimistic perceptions of these patients ( Dracup et al, 2008 ; Alfasfos et al, 2016 ; Thakkar et al, 2016 ).…”