title: Public knowledge of the symptoms of myocardial infarction: a street survey in Birmingham, England.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death in the UK. A good clinical outcome depends on rapid treatment following the onset of symptoms. A person's knowledge of typical symptoms determines how quickly they present to the medical services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate knowledge of MI symptoms among the general population and the relationship between age, gender and socio-economic status with knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Street survey of 302 participants in Birmingham, UK, using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of seven symptoms accepted in the medical literature as typical of an MI, central chest pain was the most frequently identified (75% of the sample), followed by arm pain or numbness (40%), shortness of breath (35%), fainting or dizziness (21%) and sweating (21%). Feeling or being sick and neck or jaw pain were mentioned by 8.1% and 5.9%, respectively, while an atypical or inapplicable symptom, collapse (9.9%) was mentioned more often than these. Over half the sample knew only two or fewer MI symptoms. The mean number of typical symptoms identified was 2.2 (SD = 1.28). Respondents from professional occupations and those with previous experience of MI, whether direct or indirect, showed better awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated a paucity of knowledge of MI symptoms among the general public. Such findings provide a baseline to guide public health campaigns targeting awareness of MI.
authors: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Whitaker
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Baldwin
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Tahir
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Choudhry
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Senior
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult