Decision making processes in people with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction: qualitative study

Abstract

Objective To identify the themes that influence decision making processes used by patients with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Setting Two district hospitals in North Yorkshire. Participants 22 patients admitted to hospital with confirmed second, third, or fourth acute myocardial infarction. Main outcome measure Patients' perceptions of their experience between the onset of symptoms and the decision to seek medical help. Results Six main themes that influence the decision making process were identified: appraisal of symptoms, perceived risk, previous experience, psychological and emotional factors, use of the NHS, and context of the event. Conclusions Knowledge of symptoms may not be enough to promote prompt action in the event of an acute myocardial infarction. Cognitive and emotional processes, individual beliefs and values, and the influence of the context of the event should also be considered in individual interventions designed to reduce delay in the event of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.

Help seeking for cardiac symptoms: Beyond the masculine–feminine binary

“…The transient nature of their symptoms, including chest pain, was frequently confusing for the participants. These findings accord with those of a previous investigation that showed the help-seeking decision-making process of people admitted to hospital with an AMI to be a complex interaction of knowledge and experience, beliefs, emotions, and the context of the event (Pattenden, Watt, Lewin, & Stanford, 2002). Pattenden et al (2002) found that patients experiencing the symptoms of AMI were often reluctant to relinquish control to healthcare professionals, and frequently attributed their symptoms to a benign, non-cardiac cause.…”

“…These findings accord with those of a previous investigation that showed the help-seeking decision-making process of people admitted to hospital with an AMI to be a complex interaction of knowledge and experience, beliefs, emotions, and the context of the event (Pattenden, Watt, Lewin, & Stanford, 2002). Pattenden et al (2002) found that patients experiencing the symptoms of AMI were often reluctant to relinquish control to healthcare professionals, and frequently attributed their symptoms to a benign, non-cardiac cause. As other researchers have described (Clark, 2001;Dracup et al, 1995;Galdas et al, 2007;Pattenden et al, 2002;), several participants in our study had waited until their attempts at self-treatment had failed, or their symptoms were viewed as being persistent or more severe, until they decided that their condition was serious and they required health care.…”

“…Pattenden et al (2002) found that patients experiencing the symptoms of AMI were often reluctant to relinquish control to healthcare professionals, and frequently attributed their symptoms to a benign, non-cardiac cause. As other researchers have described (Clark, 2001;Dracup et al, 1995;Galdas et al, 2007;Pattenden et al, 2002;), several participants in our study had waited until their attempts at self-treatment had failed, or their symptoms were viewed as being persistent or more severe, until they decided that their condition was serious and they required health care. This observed pattern of behavior is consistent with Clark's (2001) analysis of the role of the body and self as an important part of the interpretive frames used to understand the meaning of AMI symptoms and the action to take thereon.…”

Emergency Stroke Calls: Obtaining Rapid Telephone Triage (ESCORTT) – a programme of research to facilitate recognition of stroke by emergency medical dispatchers

“…37 A recent review of the public's awareness of stroke found that although between 27% and 100% of participants stated that they would call the EMSs, only 18% had actually done so. 26 Emotional response and context appear to be influential in deciding to seek emergency help.…”

Real Men Do…Real Men Don’t: Young Latino and African American Men’s Discourses Regarding Sexual Health Care Utilization

“…While there is a broad literature on men's overall healthseeking behavior (Kaur et al, 2007;O'Brien et al, 2005;Pattenden, Watt, Lewin, & Standford, 2002), much less is known about their sexual health seeking. Sexual health is an important arena in which to study men's health seeking behaviors as their decisions about whether or not to seek care in this area affects not only their own health, but that of their sex partners as well.…”