Why do men and women respond differently to chest pain? A qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
to explore sex differences in responses to chest pain.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 men and 30 women with chest pain, age 45 to 64, living in two socioeconomically divergent areas of Glasgow, Scotland.


RESULTS
Three themes underpinned sex differences in responses to chest pain: perceived vulnerability to heart disease, previous experience of health care, and nonmedical care strategies. Men were perceived to be at greater risk of heart disease. Women were concerned that reporting their chest pain wasted the doctors' time. Men and women were equally likely to discuss their pain with lay others, but women were less likely to be directed to medical care.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite initiatives to raise awareness that heart disease is important for women, women and their lay consultants continue to underestimate the significance of chest pain. Women's reluctance to seek medical care may contribute to sex differences in use of cardiology services.
Richards
Helen M
HM
Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute, University of Aberdeen.
Reid
Margaret E
ME
Watt
Graham C M
GC
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors