Author(s)

Catrin Henriksson, Margareta Larsson, Judy Arnetz, Johan Herlitz, Jan-Erik Karlsson, Leif Svensson, Marie Thuresson, Crister Zedigh, Lisa Wernroth, Bertil Lindahl

Department of Cardiology, Falu Hospital, Falun, Sweden.
Department of Cardiology, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
Department of Cardiology, Ryhov Hospital, Jonkoping, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.
Department of Medical Sciences and Uppsala Clinical Research Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Department of Women’s and Children’s health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Institution of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction often have long decision times before seeking medical care. The decision time is influenced by knowledge of AMI-symptoms, psychological factors and the response of people near the patient to the symptoms. Aim: To investigate and compare the knowledge of AMI, intended actions in response to AMI-symptoms and attitudes toward seeking medical care of patients and the general public. Method: This was a multicentre study with descriptive and comparative design, using questionnaires as an instrument. The population consisted of AMI-patients and representatives of the general public. Results: There was good knowledge about typical AMI-symptoms among the participants. The majority thought an AMI always starts suddenly. Patients did not know more about the time-dependency of treatment outcome than the general public. A greater proportion of the general public would contact an additional person before consulting medical professionals. Conclusions: Patients had no better knowledge about AMI than the general public, but would more commonly act appropriately in case of AMI-symptoms.

Acute Myocardial Infarction; Decision Making; Patient; General Public; Knowledge and Attitudes

Henriksson, C. , Larsson, M. , Arnetz, J. , Herlitz, J. , Karlsson, J. , Svensson, L. , Thuresson, M. , Zedigh, C. , Wernroth, L. and Lindahl, B. (2012) Knowledge about Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and attitudes to medical care seeking—A comparison between patients and the general public. Open Journal of Nursing, 2, 372-378. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2012.24055.