Women's experiences and behaviour at onset of symptoms of ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Minimizing time from onset of symptoms to treatment (treatment delay) is crucial for patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), and one of the great challenges is to reduce the delay relating to the prehospital behaviour of the patient (patient delay). Studies indicate that women delay longer than men and insights into this area could lead to improved health education programmes aimed at reducing patient delay in women with STEMI.


METHODS
Open interviews with 14 women with STEMI were held during their hospital stay from June to September 2009. The interviews were aimed at exploring determinants of treatment delay, and were carried out and analysed within a phenomenological framework.


RESULTS
Three themes emerged important for the delay in seeking medical assistance: (1) Knowledge and ideas of AMI symptoms and risks. (2) Ambivalence whether to call for medical assistance or to cope with the situation. (3) Actions and strategies taken after onset of symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Three factors determined whether women showed appropriate behaviour for reduced patient delay after onset of symptoms: (1) identifying the symptoms as being of cardiac origin, (2) having a prepared action plan in case of an emergency situation, and (3) living with someone or contacting other persons.
Department of Cardiology, post 404, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Niels Andersensvej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. mahe@geh.regionh.dk
Margrethe
M
Herning
Peter R
PR
Hansen
Birgitte
B
Bygbjerg
Tove
T
Lindhardt
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003718:Denmark; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health