Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Exploratory study into the awareness of heart diseases among Emirati women (UAE) and  
their health seeking behaviour - A qualitative study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 09 Apr 2016  
 
Reviewer: Puja K. Mehta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an important study on awareness of heart disease among Emirati women and  their health  
seeking behavior. Authors have reported on an important topic of heart disease in women by 
interviewing 41 women in a semi -structured fashion. Manuscript is engaging and timely.  
 
Manuscript in general is too long.  Here are my recommendations : 
1. In the abstract, under Results, recommend for 1st sentence: "Emirati women had limited 
knowledge of heart disease."  
2. In the abstract, under conclusions, authors state "...delayed health seeking action and poorer 
prognosis among Emirati women".   Th e authors did not investigate prognosis.  
3. The introduction could be shortened from 3.5 pages to 1.5 - 2 pages.  
4. The conclusion could be shortened from 3 paragraphs to 1 paragraph, with the main points.  
5. In Table 2, recommend: "Awareness of heart d isease" and "Factors that influence healthcare 
utilization"  
6. In the results section, authors have mixed in some discussion. It may be better to only report 
results in the Results section.  For example, on page 14, line 334 - "These views on smoking 
are of great concern...." can be in the discussion.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls ? 
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of w ritten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you receiv ed reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I h ave no competing interests.  
 
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