Assess the risk factors and knowledge on modification of lifestyle among patients who have experienced acute myocardial infarction in Taif.

ABSTRACT

Background: Patient education programme for cardiac patients is an essential part of quality medical care today. For the diagnosis and therapeutic regimen to be beneficial, patients must be informed about their own health and motivated to share the responsibility. Aims & Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for myocardial infarction in Taif region, Saudi Arabia kingdom and establish a modification in the life style to decrease the incidence of cardiac diseases. Material and Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at governmental hospital at Taif. Thirty nine subjects admitted to Emergency department during the study period with their first episode of Acute Myocardial Infarction participated in this study. Results: A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. They were 31 (79.5%) males and 8 (20.5%) females, the majority of patients (46.2%) under the scope of this study was above the age of 50 years, 87.2% of them was married and 12.8% was divorced. the main risk factors that affect the patients in Taif region, KSA were the presence of hypertension (59%) , diabetes (35.9%), consuming a highly deep fried food (76.9%) , lack of regular exercise (89.7%) and nervous mode (79.5%). the mean knowledge score of patients recruited in this study was either low (51%) or medium score (29%), and little percentage was either high (14%) or very high (6%) knowledge score. Conclusion: It is recommended to encourage health care providers especially nurses and physicians to teach their patients about disease process, risk factors, and preventive measures during providing either medical or nursing care.