Symptoms and treatment-seeking responses in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time

Gallagher, R; Marshall, AP; Fisher, MJ

Symptoms and treatment-seeking responses in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time

Gallagher, R

Marshall, AP

Fisher, MJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2010, 39 (6), pp. 477 - 484
Issue Date:: 2010-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gallagher, R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5588-9351	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Marshall, AP https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7692-403X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fisher, MJ	en_US
dc.date.available	2009-10-30	en_US
dc.date.issued	2010-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2010, 39 (6), pp. 477 - 484	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0147-9563	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/13766
dc.description.abstract	© 2010 Elsevier Inc Background and Objective Many women do not recognize their risk for coronary heart disease, or identify and respond to cardiac symptoms by seeking medical assistance when symptoms occur. These factors contribute to delays in presentation at hospital, which means that women then have fewer treatment options. This study aimed to describe women's symptom experiences and treatment-seeking responses to first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Subjects and Methods Ten women who had experienced their first ACS event, and who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 hours of presentation, consented to participate in semistructured interviews that focused on their experiences. These women's narratives of their symptoms and treatment-seeking responses were thematically analyzed. Results and Conclusion Women described several issues that contributed to quite complex, multifaceted decision-making processes, from symptom onset to treatment-seeking response, which often contributed to delays. These issues included the occurrence of sometimes intermittent early-warning or prodromal symptoms, the diversity of their symptom experience, beliefs in low vulnerability to coronary heart disease by the women themselves, and health professionals' responses, which did not always match their needs. Lack of awareness may be particularly important in first-time ACS event. Effective strategies need to be developed to address these issues, including public-education campaigns, and specific education regarding women for health professionals.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.hrtlng.2009.10.019	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Narration	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adaptation, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Decision Making	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Interview, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Time Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Patient Acceptance of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Acute Coronary Syndrome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary	en_US
dc.title	Symptoms and treatment-seeking responses in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	39	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	39	en_US

Abstract:

© 2010 Elsevier Inc Background and Objective Many women do not recognize their risk for coronary heart disease, or identify and respond to cardiac symptoms by seeking medical assistance when symptoms occur. These factors contribute to delays in presentation at hospital, which means that women then have fewer treatment options. This study aimed to describe women's symptom experiences and treatment-seeking responses to first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Subjects and Methods Ten women who had experienced their first ACS event, and who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 hours of presentation, consented to participate in semistructured interviews that focused on their experiences. These women's narratives of their symptoms and treatment-seeking responses were thematically analyzed. Results and Conclusion Women described several issues that contributed to quite complex, multifaceted decision-making processes, from symptom onset to treatment-seeking response, which often contributed to delays. These issues included the occurrence of sometimes intermittent early-warning or prodromal symptoms, the diversity of their symptom experience, beliefs in low vulnerability to coronary heart disease by the women themselves, and health professionals' responses, which did not always match their needs. Lack of awareness may be particularly important in first-time ACS event. Effective strategies need to be developed to address these issues, including public-education campaigns, and specific education regarding women for health professionals.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/13766