Early Recognition and Management of Heart Attack: Effectiveness of Structured Training Program in Enhancing Knowledge and Practices Among General Population of Wah Cantt

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, and myocardial infarction (heart attack) accounts for a substantial share of this burden. Timely recognition of warning symptoms and prompt bystander action directly influence clinical outcomes, yet public knowledge of heart attack symptoms and early management remains limited in many communities, including Pakistan. Objective: To assess knowledge regarding signs, symptoms, and early management of heart attack among the general population of Wah Cantt, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured training program, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction, in improving this knowledge. Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test study was conducted at Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Hospital, Wah Cantt, using a convenience sample of 47 educated adult residents meeting the inclusion criteria. Participants completed a structured, adopted 25-item questionnaire assessing knowledge of heart attack signs, symptoms, and early management before and after a 1.5-hour structured education session that incorporated CPR training. CPR performance was assessed against a standardized checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21; a paired-samples t-test compared pre- and post-intervention knowledge scores. Results: At baseline, 32.0% (n = 15) of participants demonstrated poor knowledge and 68.0% (n = 32) demonstrated good knowledge of heart attack symptoms and early management. Following the structured training, 95.7% (n = 45) demonstrated good knowledge and 4.3% (n = 2) demonstrated poor knowledge. Mean knowledge level improved from 1.68 (SD = 0.47) pre-intervention to 1.96 (SD = 0.20) post-intervention, a statistically significant change, t(46) = −3.51, p = .001. Following CPR training, 97.9% (n = 46) of participants demonstrated effective CPR performance. Conclusion: A single structured training session combining didactic education with CPR skills training produced a statistically significant improvement in community knowledge of heart attack recognition and early management. These findings support integrating brief, structured community health education programs into public health strategies aimed at reducing pre-hospital delay and strengthening bystander response to cardiac emergencies.