Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify awareness and early recognition of myocardial infarction (MI) symptomatology and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills in adults residing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was conducted during May and June 2025. Electronically distributed questionnaires were used to assess participants’ knowledge about MI symptomatology, associated risk factors, and CPR skills.
Results: There were 402 participants, and 175 (43.5%) had a personal history of heart disease. The most commonly identified symptom of MI was chest pain (48%). The most common response provided by the participants was calling emergency services (59.7%). Only 152 (37.8%) of the participants correctly defined CPR. Although no significant association existed between CPR knowledge and demographic characteristics (p > 0.05), CPR knowledge was significantly associated with the perception and attitude of the participants (p-value = 0.025).
Conclusion: The study revealed low public awareness regarding the identification of early MI symptoms and poor knowledge of CPR in adults in Jeddah. These findings emphasize the significance of public health intervention and education in enhancing emergency preparedness.

Key words: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myocardial infarction, public awareness, emergency response, Saudi Arabia