What does the lay public know about heart failure? Findings from the Heart Failure Awareness Day Initiative
Autor: | Kenneth Dickstein, Stefan D. Anker, Ausra Kavoliuniene, P. Ponikowski, Mitja Lainscak, Petar M. Seferović, Stefan Störk, Dragos Vinereanu, Rafael Ludwig, Gerasimos Filippatos |
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Rok vydání: | 2015 |
Předmět: |
Poor prognosis
education.field_of_study medicine.medical_specialty business.industry Population Convenience sample Symptom assessment 030204 cardiovascular system & hematology medicine.disease 3. Good health Clinical Practice 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Heart failure Needs assessment Lower prevalence Physical therapy Medicine 030212 general & internal medicine Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine education business |
Zdroj: | European Journal of Heart Failure. 18:66-70 |
ISSN: | 1388-9842 |
Popis: | Aim & Methods One critical factor enhancing the implementation of successful diagnostic and therapeutic strategies into clinical practice is awareness among the lay public. We describe awareness in a contemporary, multinational convenience sample of subjects attending the Heart Failure Awareness (HFA) Day Initiatives in 2013. Results We analysed 2,438 subjects (Germany 33%, Lithuania 42%, Romania 8%, Slovenia 17%) : 53% were female, 58% were aged >60 years, 11% (had) worked in the medical sector, 82% heard about HF before. Shortness of breath and tiredness were correctly identified as symptoms of heart failure in 71% and 61%, but only 52% recognized swelling of feet and legs as a clinical sign; 31% considered heart failure a normal symptom of old age, and only 38% realized the particularly poor prognosis after a heart failure related hospitalization. Subjects who had heard about heart failure before had a lower prevalence of common misbeliefs about HF. Conclusion In subjects participating in the HFA Day initiative 2013, the level of awareness was unsatisfactory, and important misconceptions remain. The educational and awareness activities for both the population at large and also for decision makers should be broadened and intensified. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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