ABSTRACT
Knowledge about coronary artery disease and it's risk factors is a very important factor in prevention of ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of patient attendants about coronary artery disease and its risk factors in southern of Iran; Shiraz. Cross sectional study. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. 800 patient attendants [persons accompanying patients] selected randomly and divided into two groups [study and control] each including 400 patient attendants. Face to face interview was done and knowledge was measured by correct answers to our standard questionnaire. The median knowledge score was 6.89 for study group and was 2.82 for control group out of a possible maximum of 15. Majority of respondents in study group could identify up to three risk factors for coronary artery disease, but in control group could identify only one risk factor. About 5.8% in study group and 37.5% in control group were not able to identify even a single risk factor for coronary artery disease. According to our results there is a big gap in knowledge about coronary artery disease and it's risk factors in our population. It means that more educational programs are needed to prevent the increasing rate of coronary artery disease