Why people experiencing acute myocardial infarction delay seeking medical assistance.
BACKGROUND
Delay time from onset of symptoms of myocardial infarction to seeking medical assistance can have life-threatening consequences. A number of factors have been associated with delay, but there is little evidence regarding the predictive value of these indices.


OBJECTIVE
To explore potential predictors of patient delay from onset of symptoms to time medical assistance was sought in a consecutive sample of patients admitted to CCU with acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
The Cardiac Denial of Impact Scale, Health Locus of Control Scale, Health Value Scale and Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness were administered to 62 patients between 3 and 6 days after admission.


RESULTS
Attribution of symptoms to heart disease and health locus of control had a significant predictive effect on patients seeking help within 60 min, while previous experience of heart disease did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Assisting individuals to recognise the potential for symptoms to have a cardiac origin is an important objective. Interventions should take into account the variety of cognitive and behavioural factors involved in decision making.
Carney
Rosa
R
Regional Cardiology Unit, A Floor, Belfast City Hospital, BT9 7AB, Belfast, UK.
Fitzsimons
Donna
D
Dempster
Martin
M
D000368:Aged; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors