title: Predictors of delay in seeking treatment by Jordanian patients with acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ACS management aims for early coronary reperfusion, which should be within one hour from symptoms onset. This time was found to be relatively long, and many patients died before hospital arrival. In Jordan, this phenomenon is not clearly understood with a discrepancy between the reported durations of delay time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate Jordanian ACS patients' delay time in seeking medical care, along with predictors of delay.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized to conveniently recruit 160 Jordanian ACS patients. Data were collected using chart review and the Modified ACS Response Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean delay time was 7.8 hours (SD =3.5), with none of participants presenting within one hour. Delay time correlated negatively with ACS history, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceived risk (r = -0.448, r = -0.400, r = -0.408, r = -0.261, r = -0.411, respectively) and positively with health perception (r = 0.469). A 4-predictor model (history, beliefs, health perception, STEMI diagnosis) was revealed explaining 40% of variance in delay time (R(2)=.400, F (14,145) = 6.908, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving ACS patients' health seeking behaviors can be achieved when all components of care are considered together.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: m.darawad@ju.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Muhammad W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Darawad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Amman Private University, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Nedal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alfasfos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Zyad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Al-Farabi College for Dentistry and Nursing, Al-Farabi College, Riyadh 11514, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamdan-Mansour
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000592:standards*
keywords: ACS event; Delay time; Jordan; Knowledge; Myocardial infarction; Perceived risk