THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION LEVEL AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEART ATTACKS

Authors

  • Lilik Pranata Universitas Katolik Musi Charitas
  • Vincencius Surani Universitas Katolik Musi Charitas
  • Bangun Dwi Hardika Universitas Katolik Musi Charitas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32524/ukmcic.v2026i1.2308

Keywords:

Education Level, Public Knowledge, Heart Attack, Cardiovascular Health, Health Education

Abstract

Purpose A heart attack is a medical emergency requiring symptom recognition and immediate intervention. Public knowledge is essential for identifying warning signs and determining appropriate responses. This study examines the relationship between education level and public knowledge regarding heart attacks. Design Methodology Approach This study uses a quantitative correlational design involving thirty respondents selected through consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Respondent characteristics and knowledge levels were analyzed descriptively, while the relationship between education level and knowledge was examined using Spearman’s rho correlation test. Findings The statistical analysis yielded a significance value of zero point two hundred forty, exceeding zero point zero five, with a correlation coefficient of zero point two hundred seven, indicating a very weak positive association. The coefficient of determination was zero point zero four two, equivalent to four point two percent. The results indicate no statistically significant relationship between education level and public knowledge regarding heart attacks. Research Implications Formal education does not significantly correlate with public knowledge regarding heart attacks. Future research should investigate other factors, including healthcare exposure and media access, using larger and more representative community samples to evaluate cardiovascular health interventions. Practical Implications Healthcare institutions and public health workers should provide continuous education about heart attack symptoms, modifiable risk factors, and emergency responses. Community programs should use accessible materials and practical methods to improve awareness and support timely decision making during cardiac emergencies. Originality Value This study provides empirical evidence from a local Indonesian community, challenging the assumption that higher formal education guarantees cardiovascular literacy. The findings emphasize the importance of assessing community knowledge directly to improve emergency health awareness. Keywords Education Level, Public Knowledge, Heart Attack, Cardiovascular Health, Health Education

References

Sehgal, A., Mittal, V. and Kaur, A. ‘A descriptive cross-sectional study to evaluate the knowledge about symptoms and risk factors for heart attack (myocardial infarction) among the general population of New Delhi’ (2023), IAR Journal of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, 4(1), pp. 1–3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjacc.2023.v04i01.013.

Bray, J.E., Nehme, Z., Finn, J.C., Kasza, J., Clark, R.A., Stub, D., Cadilhac, D.A., Buttery, A.K., Woods, J., Kim, J., Smith, B.J., Smith, K., Cartledge, S., Beauchamp, A., Dodge, N., Walker, T., Flemming-Judge, E., Chow, C., Stewart, M., Cox, N., and Gaal, W., Nadurata, P.C. ‘A protocol for the Heart Matters stepped wedge cluster randomised trial: the effectiveness of heart attack education in regions at highest-risk’ (2023), Resuscitation Plus, 15, 100431. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100431.

Fukuoka, Y., Kim, D.D., Zhang, J., Hoffman, T.J., DeVon, H.A. and Sagae, K. ‘AI HeartBot to increase women’s awareness and knowledge of heart attacks: nonrandomized, quasi-experimental study’ (2025), JMIR Cardio, 9. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2196/80407.

Lee, C., Chow, C., Yan, A.T., Moe, G.W., Tu, J.V., and Chu, J.Y. ‘Awareness of warning symptoms of heart disease and stroke: results of a follow-up study of the Chinese Canadian Cardiovascular Health Project’ (2021), CJC Open, 3(6), pp. 741–750. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2021.01.014.

Abdelkhalik, M.A., Boutros, E., Trad, K., Arafat, O., Alyousfi, M.N. and Bouclaous, C.B. (2024) ‘Moving towards health promoting schools: effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding heart attack, and CPR knowledge in high school students in Lebanon’, Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1355766. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1355766.

Banharak, S., Threeranut, A. and Metprommarat, A. (2024) ‘Effects of health education applying role play on decision making in acute myocardial infarction situation among older adults in community’, Scientific Reports, 14, 19627. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-70747-2.

Singh, K., Kondal, D., Mohan, D., Gandral, M., Rajan, S., Mohan, V., Ali, M.K., Narayan, K.V., Huffman, M.D., Prabhakaran, D., and Tandon, N. ‘Community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiovascular diseases and modifiable risk factors in India’ (2024), Indian Heart Journal, 76(6), pp. 376–384. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2024.11.002.

Dewi, P., Tasminatun, S. and Himawan, W. (2025) ‘Health promotion intervention to improve public knowledge on coronary heart disease in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a quasi-experimental study’, The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal, 19, e18741924364505. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2174/0118741924364505250115101701.

Muhihi, A., Njelekela, M.A., Anaeli, A., Mruma, H.A., Sunguya, B., Kakoko, D., Kessy, A.T., Mpembeni, R., and Urassa, D.P. ‘Enhancing public knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for stroke and heart attack through home-based community health worker interventions: a cluster randomized trial’ (2025).

Hassan, M.O., Ahmed, S.A., Hassan, M.S., Mohamud, M.A. and Abdi, A.E. (2024) ‘Exploring myocardial infarction knowledge, attitudes and practice among Mogadishu’s Somali residents’, Vascular Health and Risk Management, 20, pp. 13–20. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S448220.

Yousef, F., Mohamed, Z., Singh, G.K.J., and Hassan, N.H. ‘Identifying educational needs and knowledge gaps in healthcare professionals for effective management of acute myocardial infarction’ (2024), International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(6).

Winiger, A.M., Shue-McGuffin, K., Moore-Gibbs, A., Jordan, K., and Blanchard, A. ‘Implementation of an Ask Me 3® education video to improve outcomes in post-myocardial infarction patients’ (2021), American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 8, 100253. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100253.

Jirapraditpon, S. (2024) ‘Effects of health education on knowledge and practices for preventing acute myocardial infarction in patients with acute myocardial infarction in Koh Samui Hospital’, Journal of MCU Nakhondhat.

Kartschmit, N., Birnbach, B., Hartwig, S. and Mikolajczyk, R. (2022) ‘Knowledge of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction, reaction to the symptoms, and ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation: results from a cross-sectional survey in four regions in Germany’, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 9, 897263. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.897263.

Harbi, K.M.A., Alluhidan, W.A., Almatroudi, M.I., and Alotabi, N.M. ‘Knowledge and attitude of general people towards symptoms of heart attack and the impact of delay time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’ (2022). Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9767791/.

Liu, Y. et al. (2022) ‘Latent class cluster analysis of knowledge on acute myocardial infarction in community residents: a cross-sectional study in Tianjin, China’, BMJ Open, 12(6), e051952. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051952.

Luan, S. et al. (2021) ‘Public knowledge of stroke and heart attack symptoms in China: a cross-sectional survey’, BMJ Open, 11(1), e043220. Available at: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e043220.

Ma, J. et al. (2021) ‘Public awareness of acute myocardial infarction symptoms and emergency response in community residents’, European Heart Journal, 42(Supplement 1), ehab724.3133. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.3133.

Ookeditse, O. et al. (2024) ‘Age and healthy lifestyle behavior’s disparities and similarities on knowledge of myocardial infarction symptoms and risk factors among public and outpatients in a resource-limited setting, cross-sectional study in greater Gaborone, Botswana’, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 24, 140. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-024-03792-4.

Pallangyo, P., Mkojera, Z.S., Komba, M. et al. (2024) ‘Public knowledge of risk factors and warning signs of heart attack and stroke’, The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 60, 12. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-023-00780-x.

Risnandar, M.W., Anna, A. and Mirwanti, R. (2024) ‘Improving public’s knowledge of cardiovascular health through health education’, Media Karya Kesehatan, 7(2). Available at: https://jurnal.unpad.ac.id/mkk/article/view/52885.

Sajja, S., Stead, T., Mangal, R. and Ganti, L. (2023) ‘Layperson knowledge of heart attacks in the state of Georgia, USA’, Health Psychology Research, 11, 77759. Available at: https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.77759.

Sehgal, A., Mittal, V. and Kaur, A. (2023) ‘A descriptive cross-sectional study to evaluate the knowledge about symptoms and risk factors for heart attack (myocardial infarction) among the general population of New Delhi’, IAR Journal of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, 4(1), pp. 1–3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjacc.2023.v04i01.013.

Shams, A., Ibrahimi, I. and Ahmadzai, H. (2024) ‘Awareness of myocardial infarction in Nangarhar residents: a community based study’, Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, 9(2), pp. 130–134. Available at: https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jccm.1001193.

Sharma, A. et al. (2021) ‘Global awareness of myocardial infarction symptoms in general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Korean Circulation Journal, 51(12), pp. 983–996. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2021.0100. Full text gratis:

Syed, W., Samarkandi, O., Alanazi, A.A. et al. (2024) ‘Assessment of myocardial infarctions knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among adults living in Riyadh Saudi Arabia – insights from cross-sectional study’, Scientific Reports, 14, 31457. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83169-x.

Hassen, H.Y., Ndejjo, R., Geertruyden, J.V., Musinguzi, G., Abrams S., and Bastianes, H. ‘Type and effectiveness of community-based interventions in improving knowledge related to cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: a systematic review’ (2022), American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 10, 100341. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2022.100341.

World Health Organization (2022a) Health literacy development for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: Volume 2. A globally relevant perspective. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240055353.

World Health Organization (2022b) Health literacy development for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: Volume 4. Case studies from WHO National Health Literacy Demonstration Projects. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240055391.

World Health Organization (2025a) Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-%28cvds%29.

Downloads

Published

2026-10-22

How to Cite

Pranata, L. ., Surani, V. ., & Hardika, B. D. (2026). THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION LEVEL AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEART ATTACKS. UKMC International Conference (UKMC IC) Proceedings, 3(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.32524/ukmcic.v2026i1.2308

Issue

Section

ARTIKEL UKMC IC