Public response to chest pain in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is one of the main and most frequent manifestations of myocardial infarction (MI). Increased level of public awareness on the optimal response to chest pain due to MI attacks is crucial for minimizing its complications and mortality rate.

AIMS: The first aim of this investigation was to assess the level of public awareness on their response to acute chest pain. The second aim was to obtain information about self-reported risk factors for coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This survey was conducted in various regions of Jordan during the period of July-September 2004. A total of 4194 adults (out of 4500), 2086 males (49.7%) and 2108 females (50.3%) resident in Jordan were included in the sample. The response rate was 92.3%.

METHODS: Each individual of the sample who agreed voluntarily to participate in the investigation was asked to report in a questionnaire his/her possible risk factors for MI. Moreover, each person of the sample was asked "What do you do when you suffer from a severe and crushing chest pain that persists for longer than 15 min and radiates to jaws, neck or left shoulder, with sweating and paleness of the face?" The person was asked to choose one option out of 11.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The frequency and percentage were determined for each investigated parameter.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The highest percentage of respondents had good response by selecting the option "I go to a doctor" while the lowest percentage of respondents showed poor response by choosing the option "I use an antacid". The remainder of responses was distributed among other options. Excellent awareness was reported by 47% of the sample. Differences in the type of responses were detected when the results were analyzed according to gender, type of job, level of education and ethnicity. Approximately half of the interviewed individuals of the sample had 2-4 clustering risk factors for developing acute MI attacks. Individuals in more than half of the sample had family history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. It is concluded that although the type of response to chest pain in Jordan is good-excellent, more improvement is recommended since the risk to MI is relatively high. Community education campaigns may participate in increasing public health education on the optimal response to chest pain of myocardial origin.