Thoracic pain: public awareness and attitude
Keywords:
Thoracic pain, population, knowledge, attitudeAbstract
Introduction: In 2007, the campaign “Seja mais rápido que um
enfarte” (be quicker than an infarction) was launched, to promote
earlier recognition of symptoms and activation of the emergency
number (112).
Objectives: Characterization of public awareness
about thoracic pain, trying to find out whether the campaign
above had any kind of impact.
Methods: Transversal study, using
a sample of 109 people attending a clinical pathology laboratory
who agreed to answer an assisted questionnaire. Among others
it included questions about the content of the campaign referred
above and about attitudes concerning an episode of thoracic pain.
Results: A small minority (27,5%) was effectively aware of the
campaign and its contents. Only about half of the respondents
reported calling 112 in case of sudden and persistent thoracic
pain.
Conclusions: This group awareness concerning the significance of thoracic pain and related attitudes seems still insufficient,
justifying new campaigns.
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