Women at risk of coronary heart disease experience barriers to diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative interview study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore barriers in the health service to diagnosis and treatment experienced by women at increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.


METHODS
Norway.


METHODS
Twenty women diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) recruited through a lipid clinic.


RESULTS
Women reported three specific barriers related to diagnosis and treatment of CHD. They had to struggle to take a cholesterol test; they experienced that their risk was being downplayed by doctors; and that their symptoms of CHD were misinterpreted when they consulted doctors for evaluation and treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotyping CHD as a man's disease may result in barriers to diagnosis and treatment for women. Doctors should ask the patient about the family history of CHD if a concern about heart disease is on the patient's agenda.
Frich
Jan C
JC
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. jancf@medisin.uio.no
Malterud
Kirsti
K
Fugelli
Per
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D016387:Women's Health
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL