Cardiac misconceptions in healthcare workers

Background: Cardiac misconceptions are common and may have a detrimental effect on patients. Such misconceptions may be introduced or reinforced by vague and inconsistent advice from healthcare staff and can adversely affect health outcomes. Aim: To assess whether level of cardiac misconceptions significantly differs between groups of healthcare staff based on occupation. Methods: The 22-item York Cardiac Beliefs Questionnaire (YCBQ) was administered to a convenience sample of healthcare staff (n = 263) in direct contact with cardiac patients. Data was also collected on the occupation of healthcare staff and years worked. Results: Medical staff had the lowest mean score (17.5, CI 15.6–19.4), indicating fewest misconceptions, and unqualified healthcare workers had the highest mean score (32.1, CI 28.4–35.7). Analysis by ANOVA indicated differences between staff groups to be statistically significant (F = 17.66, p < 0.001). Length of time worked was found to be significantly associated with cardiac misconception score (Pearson’s r = − 0.243, p < 0.001). Further analysis demonstrated that significant differences between mean group scores remained when years worked was defined as a covariate, F = 15.68, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is significant variability in cardiac misconceptions in different groups of healthcare staff. Education to correct cardiac misconceptions should be particularly targeted at unqualified healthcare staff. The importance of maintaining appropriate ratios of qualified to unqualified healthcare staff in the care of cardiac patients is supported by this study.