Effectiveness of the Use of Warning Signs Card for Patients with the Risk of Developing Acute Myocardial infarction and Acute Ischemic Stroke to Access the Emergency Medical System, Bangrakam District, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

The objective of this study were to study the effectiveness of the Warning Signs Card on awareness of the early warning signs of myocardial infarction and acute ischemic brain disease, and to assess the practice of patients and their relatives on symptomatic management when such warning signs occurred. It was conducted as a a quasi-experimental research in Bangrakam Subdistrict, Bangrakam District, Phitsanulok Province. Th study samples were patients attending chronic disease clinics in community health centers between May - June 2018. There were altogether 30 cases who were subsequently divided into 2 groups: one with the risk of myocardial infarction and the other with acute ischemic brain disease, 5 persons per group, both with CV Risk Score Level 4 and 5. The data collection tools were the Warning Signs Card and the indiidual assessment form. The variables collectd included (1) general characteristics of the samples, and (2) the cognitive ability assessment and practice when having symptoms. The descriptive data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; and the paired T-test was used for comparion between before and after in both groups. It was found that both sample groups had knowledge of warning signs; and improved response when having early signs of acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke. For example, 86.9 percent of the cases would call 1669, compared to 77.2% before the intervention (p<0.05). Thus, the Warning Signs Card was found to be effective in self awareness on the early warning symptoms acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke among the patients and their relatives; and improvement on the response to manage the incidents in a timelt manner was observed, resulting in proper and rapid care before reaching the hospital, and reduced mortality and disability of the patients. Therefore, the concept of Warning Signs Card should be applied widely and be expanded to cover the patients with CV Risk score level 3 and lower. Additional educational materials should be produced to further increase the effectiveness of Warning Signs Card utilization in the care for patients with acute ischemic heart disease and acute ischemia stroke.