Key result
Older patients with acute coronary syndrome demonstrated moderate overall knowledge of symptoms (mean score 14.7/21) but inadequate knowledge of atypical symptoms and negative attitudes toward recognizing signs.
Why the study?
Prehospital delay contributes to mortality in older patients with ACS and is often linked to symptom knowledge, prompting this assessment of knowledge and attitudes in older ACS survivors.
Cross-Sectional (n=117)
No
Older ACS survivors have moderate knowledge of typical symptoms but inadequate knowledge of atypical symptoms and negative attitudes toward recognizing signs, highlighting the need for targeted education to reduce prehospital delays.
Supports targeted ACS symptom education in older survivors; leaves open whether it shortens prehospital delay.
Objective: Prehospital delay in seeking emergency care contributes to mortality associated with older patients with acute coronary syndrome.It is often linked with patients' knowledge and awareness of acute coronary syndrome symptoms.The study aims to assess knowledge and attitude about acute coronary syndrome symptoms among older acute coronary syndrome survivors.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used.The study sample consisted of 117 older adults admitted to the cardiology inpatient and coronary intensive care unit for acute coronary syndrome.Data were collected with the Acute Coronary Syndrome Response Index.According to the Acute Coronary Syndrome Response Index subscales, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the data.Results: Participants' knowledge score was 14.7 ± 2.10, and the attitude score was 12.0 ± 3.28.More than half of the participants (61%) were over 70% true of the cut-off for knowledge score.Most participants (>85%) recognized typical symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (nausea/vomiting and neck pain), and more than half (<65%) recognized atypical symptoms (heartburn and dizziness).Participants were not at all or a little sure about "recognition of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack in themselves (52.2%) & in others and distinguish them from other diseases (≥65%)."Conclusion: Older patients presented moderate knowledge about symptoms, inadequate knowledge of atypical symptoms, and negative attitudes toward signs.Insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes toward acute coronary syndrome may cause prehospital delays for older patients.To minimize delays in seeking emergency treatment, education programs should target specific demographic groups in older populations with insufficient knowledge of acute coronary syndrome symptoms, which are more likely to experience atypical symptoms.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Arzu Akbaba (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Acute Coronary Syndrome (n=117). Knowledge and attitudes about ACS symptoms was evaluated on Knowledge and attitude scores measured by the Acute Coronary Syndrome Response Index (ACSRI). Older patients with acute coronary syndrome demonstrated moderate overall knowledge of symptoms (mean score 14.7/21) but inadequate knowledge of atypical symptoms and negative attitudes toward recognizing signs.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: