title: Knowledge of Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors among a Community Sample in Oman: Pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of Omani adults regarding conventional coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and to identify demographic variables associated with these knowledge levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was carried out among a convenience sample of 130 adults attending a health awareness fair held in a local shopping mall in Muscat, Oman, in November 2012. A modified version of the Heart Disease Facts Questionnaire in both English and Arabic was used to assess knowledge of CHD risk factors. Scores were calculated by summing the correct answers for each item (range: 0-21). Inadequate knowledge was indicated by a mean score of <70%. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to establish the participants' knowledge levels and identify associated demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 114 subjects participated in the study (response rate: 87.7%). Of these, 69 participants (60.5%) had inadequate mean CHD knowledge scores. Knowledge of CHD risk factors was significantly associated with body mass index (odds ratio [OR] = 0.739; P = 0.023), marital status (OR = 0.057; P = 0.036) and education level (OR = 9.243; P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low knowledge levels of CHD risk factors were observed among the studied community sample in Oman; this is likely to limit the participants' ability to engage in preventative practices. These findings support the need for education programmes to enhance awareness of risk factors and prevention of CHD in Oman.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health Nursing, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan;
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ammouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, California State University, California, Los Angeles, USA;
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tailakh
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health & Critical Care, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Chandrani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isac
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health & Critical Care, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Joy K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kamanyire
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health & Critical Care, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muliira
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health & Critical Care, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Shreedevi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balachandran
keywords: Coronary Heart Disease; Knowledge; Oman; Prevention; Risk Factors