KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND LIFESTYLE OF PATIENTS WITH UNSTABLE ANGINA IN MASHAD, IRAN

To determine the level of knowledge and to assess attitudes and lifestyles in patients with unstable angina. A descriptive study was conducted among CCU patients in Mashad hospitals. 180 subjects were chosen by sequential admission. They filled an 82-item questionnaire covering demographic variables (4 items) - knowledge (5 items) –attitude (56 items) – lifestyle (17 items). Findings indicate that the global level of knowledge is sufficient on issues such as cardiac risk factors, current treatments, and treatment compliance. The same patients showed very low knowledge of pain-inducing behaviors. Meanwhile, attitude scores turned out to be relatively low in some areas including perceived threat of disease (severity and susceptibility) and internal health Locus of Control. Health care professionals (physicians, nurses,..) tended to ignore the need for proper education of cardiac patients. There is a strong need to promote patient education in order to enhance knowledge and bring about a change in attitudes.