title: Delay in seeking health care for acute coronary syndromes in a Lebanese sample.
abstract: Early treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine delay in seeking care for ACS symptoms in a Lebanese sample and identify predictors of delay. Medical record reviews and interviews using the Response to Symptoms Questionnaire were conducted with 204 ACS patients in coronary care within 72 hours of admission. Median time from symptom onset to hospital arrival was 4.5 hours. Higher education, presence of dyspnea, intermittent symptoms, and waiting for symptoms to go away predicted longer delays, whereas intensity of symptoms and active response (going to the hospital) predicted shorter delays. The findings suggest lack of knowledge of ACS symptoms and the need for public education in this regard.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noureddine
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adra
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arevian
authors.forename: Nuhad Yazbik
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Dumit
authors.forename: Houry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puzantian
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shehab
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abchee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors