| Summary: | When acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs, prompt medical treatment is of critical
importance for the best outcome. Reducing the time between the onset of symptoms and
treatment seeking is considered important in reducing mortality among women with AMI.
A telephone survey using random digit dialing was conducted to assess the current
understanding of acute myocardial infarction of 349 women in the Greater Vancouver area.
This preliminary work is important for designing strategies designed to educate women and
reduce the help-seeking portion of treatment delay in women experiencing acute myocardial
infarction. Two response variables were examined: intention to delay and likelihood of
responding appropriately to myocardial infarction symptoms.
The results of this study revealed that women have not yet personalized information that they
are at risk for AMI. The participants indicated a need for more information pertaining to
symptom recognition for AMI; they were largely unaware that females experience AMI
somewhat differently than do males. The participants were less aware of the risks that diabetes,
obesity and menopause pose for AMI. The findings of this study illuminate the concern that
women have problems recognizing AMI symptoms and are not likely to respond appropriately.
Women who indicated that they would feel embarrassed if they made a "false alarm visit" to an
emergency room (ER) for suspicious symptoms were significantly less likely to indicate that
they would respond appropriately to AMI symptoms. Additionally, women who had visited ER
in the past were less likely to indicate that they would respond appropriately to AMI symptoms.
Furthermore, there is cause for concern that 36% of women intend to delay treatment seeking
for AMI. Variables significantly associated with intention to delay were embarrassment of a
false alarm, preference for self-care management, being an immigrant, and lower educational
attainment.
A multidimensional approach will be needed to address the information needs of women
pertaining to AMI recognition and treatment seeking. Not only should health promotion
campaigns deliver the information women need, but clinicians in direct contact with women,
particularly those women at risk for AMI, should be aware that treatment delay for women with
AMI is problematic. Health-care providers can help disseminate information to women
encouraging prompt and appropriate treatment seeking for AMI. Because women who had
visited ER were significantly less likely to respond appropriately to AMI symptoms, it is
important that strategies for improving ER experiences be considered.
Recommendations for further research include the consideration that the decision to seek
treatment for AMI symptoms is likely to be multidimensional. Psychological, emotional, and
social factors, in addition to cognitive understanding, are components of the complicated
process of deciding to seek treatment for AMI. === Applied Science, Faculty of === Nursing, School of === Graduate
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