Increasing employee awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart attack and the need to use 911 in a State Health Department.
BACKGROUND
Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can lead to reduced morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
A workplace intervention was conducted among 523 Montana state health department employees in 2003 to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart attack and the need to use 911. All employees received an Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs brochure and wallet card with their paychecks. Act in Time posters were placed in key workplace areas. A weekly e-mail message, including a contest entry opportunity addressing the signs and symptoms of heart attack, was sent to all employees. Baseline and follow-up telephone surveys were conducted to evaluate intervention effectiveness.


RESULTS
Awareness of heart attack signs and symptoms and the need to call 911 increased significantly among employees from baseline to follow-up: pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back (awareness increased from 69% to 91%); feeling weak, light-headed, or faint (awareness increased from 79% to 89%); call 911 if someone is having a heart attack or stroke (awareness increased from 84% to 90%). Awareness of chest pain, pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders, and shortness of breath were more than 90% at baseline and did not increase significantly at follow-up. At baseline, 69% of respondents correctly reported five or more of the signs and symptoms of heart attack; 89% reported correctly at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This low-cost workplace intervention increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart attack and the need to call 911.
Fogle
Crystelle C
CC
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena 59620-2951, USA.
Oser
Carrie S
CS
Blades
Lynda L
LL
Harwell
Todd S
TS
Helgerson
Steven D
SD
Gohdes
Dorothy
D
Spence
Michael R
MR
Dawson
Drew E
DE
D000328:Adult; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016272:Occupational Health