Perceived Risk of Heart Attack: A Function of Gender?

Abstract

Women's perceived risk beliefs for heart attack are influenced by the effects of media, cultural, and gender roles and the modeling of bias in health care. There is a need for healthcare providers to change their focus from acting on (etic) a patient to interacting within (emic) the belief systems of their patients to optimize positive outcomes.

Gender Differences in Factors Associated With Prehospital Delay Among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients in Pakistan

“…This misperception may result in attendants not taking women's symptoms seriously. The misperception that cardiac symptoms and disease occur most commonly in men has also been reported in some Western studies (Christian, Mochari, & Mosca, 2005;Hart, 2005;Lefler, 2004).…”

Understanding Prehospital Delay Behavior in Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women

“…5 There is a relationship between knowledge of symptoms, expectation of symptoms, symptom experience, and treatment-seeking behavior. 11,14 The prehospital delay time period between symptom onset until seeking medical help is a series of stages each governed by its own set of decisional processes. 37 As the literature has revealed, the symptom of chest pain serves as a catalyst for action.…”

“…31,33 Patients who were knowledgeable about heart attack symptoms and who believed that the symptoms being experienced were those of a heart attack sought treatment more quickly than those patients who attributed their symptoms to another cause. 11,17 The most significant psychosocial reason for delay by women is the correct interpretation and attribution of presenting symptoms, 14 but women often have atypical symptoms. 3,7,13,31,32 The cultural impact of symptom attribution and response cannot be understated.…”

“…14 This has resulted in a stereotype that heart disease is a man's disease and that if an individual did not have a heart attack like the one described previously, then it must not be a heart attack and hesitation in seeking treatment follows. 14,30 Both problem-focused and active-cognitive coping skills should be taught. 27 The threat of potential disability and death can lead to coping mechanisms such as denial, optimism, suppression, minimization of symptoms, perceived insignificance of symptoms, misattribution of symptoms, and more concern for others than self.…”

“…8 This lack of progress is especially true for women who have been shown to delay longer than men. 3,4,10,[12][13][14][15] The decision-making process used by women during this delay time is the greatest contributor to their delay in seeking treatment. 3 Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review 4 theoretical models used to describe the prehospital AMI decision-making process and to identify those variables that influence prehospital delay.…”