Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with coronary artery disease in a brazilian university hospital

Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of global mortality. Patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation (CAT) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often experience anxiety and lack of information, which may compromise safety, self-care, and clinical outcomes. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) methodology allows for the identification of gaps and supports the design of targeted educational interventions.

To evaluate the KAP of patients with coronary artery disease in a university hospital in Brazil.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2023 and August 2024 with 49 patients from the haemodynamics sector of a university hospital in south-eastern Brazil. Sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as KAP information, were collected through a structured and previously validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha >0.80). The KAP survey was divided into: (1) pre-procedure, addressing general knowledge and preparation; and (2) post-procedure, assessing self-care and recognition of warning signs after discharge. Analyses were performed using SPSS and STATA, including descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and multiple logistic regression (p<0.05).

Of the 49 patients, 51% were female, 91.8% lived in urban areas, and 57.1% had education below high school level. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (73.5%) and family history of heart disease (67.3%). In the pre-procedure evaluation, only 6.1% demonstrated good knowledge, whereas 69.4% showed positive attitudes and 85.7% good practices. In the post-procedure assessment, 28.6% presented good knowledge, 89.8% positive attitudes, and 93.4% good practices. Factors associated with higher odds of improved KAP included the desire to receive information through educational materials, having a mobile phone, and completing high school education (p<0.05).

Although most patients displayed favourable attitudes and practices, knowledge deficits were evident, particularly in the pre-procedure phase. Educational strategies tailored to patients’ preferences and access to information may enhance knowledge and improve the quality of care for individuals with coronary artery disease.