Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the decision time for seeking care in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: this study aimed to analyze the interaction of gender in the association between decision time for seeking healthcare services and the sociodemographic and clinical variables. METHOD: this exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed with 100 individuals interviewed in hospitals in Salvador, Bahia. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and the robust linear regression model were used in the analysis. A statistical significance of 5% was adopted. RESULTS: men and women presented long decision times. The decision time was less for smokers and those with constant and/or severe pain. There was an interaction between gender and smoking and between gender and pain radiating to the neck or jaw for the decision time outcome. CONCLUSION: decision times were long and were influenced by clinical and gender variables. The study provides support for nursing care practices focused on the specificity of these factors and of the genders aiming to reduce the decision time.

Nicotine dependence in the mental disorders, relationship with clinical indicators, and the meaning for the user

“…The high level of nicotine dependence among subjects with somatic comorbidities is consistent with the knowledge that smoking is a risk factor for physical complications. A Brazilian study, with 100 patients who suffered acute myocardial infarction, showed that the smokers had a greater perception of the risk of becoming ill, as they sought professional help faster than the other subjects when faced with the myocardial infarction symptoms ( 20 ) .…”

Preventing and Experiencing Ischemic Heart Disease as a Woman: State of the Science

“…While much success has been achieved in reducing the components of delay once a patient enters the health care system, little has changed in treatment-seeking delay times for women. This behavior is universal across cultures including women in Saudi Arabia, 233 China 234 , Brazil 235 , and Norway 236 and across racial groups, including African American women. 237 Recent studies continue to demonstrate that treatment seeking delay is associated with worse outcomes.…”

Interpretation of symptoms as a cause of delays in patients with acute myocardial infarction, Istanbul, Turkey

“…One study reported that the patients with AMI (41%) did not interpret their symptoms as being of cardiac origin (27). Other studies have reported that delays were longer in patients with AMI who did not appraise their symptoms as being serious or originating from the heart (7,10,12,28).…”