Reaction to a media campaign focusing on delay in acute myocardial infarction.
A media campaign conducted to reduce delay time and to increase the use of ambulance transport in acute myocardial infarction was performed in an urban area with about half a million inhabitants during 1 year. The main message was that chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes might indicate acute myocardial infarction; dial 90,000 immediately for ambulance transport to the hospital. The target population was the general public. After 6 and 12 months 400 and 610 randomly chosen persons, respectively, were contacted by telephone to evaluate the reaction of the general public to the campaign. Of these, 60% and 71%, respectively, had heard of the campaign, and all parts of the message were spontaneously remembered by 15% and 19%, respectively. The reaction to the campaign was generally positive. Among all patients admitted to the coronary care unit of one of the two city hospitals, 65% were aware of the campaign and 31% of them were of the opinion that they came to the hospital faster because of the campaign. In conclusion, a media campaign aimed at reducing patient delay time in acute myocardial infarction was shown to reach a majority of people in the community and patients with ischemic heart disease. The reaction was positive and about one fifth of interviewed people spontaneously remembered the total message.
Blohm
M
M
Department of Medicine I, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Herlitz
J
J
Schröder
U
U
Hartford
M
M
Karlson
B W
BW
Risenfors
M
M
Larsson
E
E
Luepker
R
R
Wennerblom
B
B
Holmberg
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors