Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Cardiovascular Diseases in the Lebanese Population

Evaluating knowledge, attitude, and physical activity levels related to cardiovascular disease in Egyptian adults with and without cardiovascular disease: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a significant health challenge in Egypt, yet there exists limited understanding regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and physical activity levels associated with CVD. These factors play a pivotal role in developing effective prevention and management strategies. Hence, this cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate Egyptian adults' knowledge, attitudes, and physical activity (KAP) levels.

METHODS

Data were collected using a previously validated questionnaire encompassing demographic characteristics, CVD knowledge (including risk factors and symptoms), attitudes toward CVD, and self-reported physical activity levels. The survey was distributed among social media channels, and trained researchers administered the questionnaire via face-to-face interviews with adult patients with and without CVD admitted to Cairo University Hospital clinics.

RESULTS

The study involved 591 participants, of whom 21.7% had CVD. Overall, participants exhibited poor knowledge regarding CVD, with a mean score of 21 ± 7 out of 40, equivalent to 52.5%. Attitudes toward CVD were moderate, with a mean score of 66.38 ± 8.7 out of 85, approximately 78%. Physical activity levels per week were also moderate, averaging 1188 MET-min with a range of 1121-18,761. Subgroup analysis revealed that individuals with CVD had lower average knowledge, attitude, and physical activity levels than those without CVD. Working in the healthcare field was a predictor of higher knowledge score (standard error (SE) 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.61 to 7.17, P < 0.001), while those with CVD and smokers were predictors of lower attitude score (SE -4.08, 95% CI -6.43 to -1.73, P < 0.001) and (SE -2.54, 95% CI -4.69 to -0.40, P = 0.02), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study findings highlight a significant disparity in knowledge, attitudes, and physical activity levels related to CVD in Egypt. Targeted interventions aimed at improving awareness, fostering positive attitudes, and promoting physical activity among individuals at risk for CVD are crucial for effective prevention and management.

School-Based Pre- and Post-Intervention Tests Assessing Knowledge about Healthy Lifestyles: A National School Health Awareness Campaign on Children Aged between 3 and 12 Years Old

In response to the diverse health challenges faced by today's youth and their extensive time spent in schools, we conducted a school health awareness campaign aimed at prioritizing well-being and academic performance. This analytical longitudinal study, spanning 27 schools in Lebanon, aimed to assess the impact of the awareness campaign on the health knowledge and practices of 5-, 8-, and 11-year-old students throughout pre- and post-intervention testing focused on general health and healthy habits, employing 11, 14, and 15 questions tailored to 5, 8, and 11 year olds, respectively. The questions covered various aspects, including sleep, personal and dental hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, addiction, security measures, and bullying. Out of the 7100 students who participated, 16.11% (1144 students) were evaluated before and after the campaign. The results indicated a significant increase in health awareness post-intervention across all age groups. For instance, in 5-year-olds, limited awareness decreased from 91.6% to 36.38%, while adequate awareness rose from 8.03% to 62.3%. Improvement varied across health knowledge topics, with security-related questions showing the highest enhancement. Factors such as governorate, normal-weight status, and close supervision influenced improvement. However, no significant correlations were found with school type, size, gender, age, nationality, parental factors, or comorbidities. The study concludes that the school health awareness campaign successfully heightened children's health awareness, advocating for the integration of regular health promotions into the standard educational curriculum.

Knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors among caregivers of cardiology patients attending Jordan University Hospital

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term that includes various pathologies involving the heart and the vasculature system of the body. CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 32% of all deaths. More than 40% of annual deaths in Jordan are due to CVD; this number is further expected to rise, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean region where Jordan is located. Due to the chronic nature of CVD, the presence of a caregiver who can help mitigate the challenges patients face is essential, and their level of knowledge determines the quality of care they can provide. Hence, this cross-sectional study was conducted in the cardiology clinics at Jordan University Hospital (JUH). Questionnaires were distributed to 469 participants, defined in this study as the caregivers escorting patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD). The self-administered questionnaire included three sections: sociodemographic and health factors, knowledge of CVD risk factors, and CHD symptoms. The mean age of the study population was 44.38 years ± 15.92 and 54.2% of participants were males. Regarding knowledge of CVD risk factors, 84.6% of participants answered more than 70% of the questions correctly. More than 95% knew that chest pain is a symptom of an acute cardiovascular event. However, only 53.5% and 74.8% of the participants reported that jaw pain and arm pain are symptoms of an acute event, respectively. Several factors influenced the caregiver's knowledge, such as age, income, frequent health checkups, having a history of CVD, CKD, or DM, and their relationship to the patient. This study sheds light on the importance of caregiver knowledge in patient care. By improving the caregivers' knowledge, identifying their role in patient care, and raising CVD awareness in susceptible populations, healthcare professionals can improve the patients' quality of life. Overall, assessing caregivers' knowledge pertaining to CVD can provide invaluable data, which may enhance patient care by educating their caregivers.

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors Among the Najran Population in Saudi Arabia

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention is of great importance due to the high prevalence of CVDs and elevated treatment expenses among patients and healthcare systems. One of the most effective strategies is the improvement of knowledge and attitude levels toward CVD symptoms and risk factors. Objective This study aimed to explore the level of knowledge and attitude about CVD among the general population in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between November and December 2022 among the Najran population. A structured questionnaire comprised socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes, and knowledge about CVD and risk factors. Ethical approval was taken from the ethical committee. Results The study included 527 participants living in Najran city aged 18 to 60 years old. Most participants were Saudi nationals (97.3%, N = 513), two-thirds had a university degree (68.9%, N = 126), and approximately half of them were females (51.8%). Furthermore, about two-thirds of the participants (60.7%, N = 320) showed a good knowledge level, and most reported an excellent attitude (87.3%, N = 460). Participants who had a university degree showed significantly better attitude levels (p-value = 0.043). No factors revealed a significant impact on the knowledge level. Conclusion Moderate knowledge and excellent attitude levels were seen among the Saudi population. Increasing the knowledge level among the total population is essential. It will be reflected in their attitude and practice. Thus, structured educational programs and utilization of available CVD guidelines should be strengthened as a better preventive strategy to overcome this condition. Also, using mass and social media to increase population awareness and good health responsibility is an effective way to limit the risk of CVD incidence.