Socioeconomic variations in responses to chest pain: qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore and explain socioeconomic variations in perceptions of and behavioural responses to chest pain.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews.


METHODS
Community based study in Glasgow, Scotland.


METHODS
30 respondents (15 men and 15 women) from a socioeconomically deprived area of Glasgow and 30 respondents (15 men and 15 women) from an affluent area of Glasgow.


METHODS
Participants' reports of their perceptions of and actions in response to chest pain.


RESULTS
Residents of the deprived area reported greater perceived vulnerability to heart disease, stemming from greater exposure to heart disease in family members and greater identification with high risk groups and stereotypes of cardiac patients. This greater perceived vulnerability was not associated with more frequent reporting of presenting to a general practitioner. People from the deprived area reported greater exposure to ill health, which allowed them to normalise their chest pain, led to confusion with other conditions, and gave rise to a belief that they were overusing medical services. These factors were associated with a reported tendency not to present with chest pain. Anxiety about presenting among respondents in the deprived area was heightened by self blame and fear that they would be chastised by their general practitioner for their risk behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
Important socioeconomic variations in responses to chest pain may contribute to the known inequities in uptake of secondary cardiology services. Primary care professionals and health promoters should be aware of the ways in which perceptions of symptoms and illness behaviour are shaped by social and cultural factors.
Richards
Helen Mary
HM
Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute, University of Aberdeen, The Green House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness IV2 3ED. hmr@hihri.abdn.ac.uk
Reid
Margaret Elspeth
ME
Watt
Graham Charles Murray
GC
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011203:Poverty; D012606:Scotland; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class