Patient knowledge of thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT

A convenience sample of 50 patients admitted for treatment or ruling out of acute myocardial infarction were asked about their knowledge of thrombolysis. Some 44 of 50 knew nothing of thrombolysis and interestingly 30 of these 44 had been previously diagnosed as having ischaemic heart disease. Greater knowledge of the benefit and timeliness of thrombolysis may provide an important incentive for earlier presentation of this group.