Symptom recognition and treatment-seeking behaviors in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time: a qualitative study

Asghari, E; Gholizadeh, L; Kazami, L; Taban Sadeghi, M; Separham, A; Khezerloy-aghdam, N

Symptom recognition and treatment-seeking behaviors in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time: a qualitative study

Asghari, E Gholizadeh, L

Kazami, L Taban Sadeghi, M Separham, A Khezerloy-aghdam, N

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22, (1)

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Asghari, E
dc.contributor.author	Gholizadeh, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6711-3312
dc.contributor.author	Kazami, L
dc.contributor.author	Taban Sadeghi, M
dc.contributor.author	Separham, A
dc.contributor.author	Khezerloy-aghdam, N
dc.date.accessioned	2022-11-29T05:02:08Z
dc.date.available	2022-11-29T05:02:08Z
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2261
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/163818
dc.description.abstract	<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Women are more likely to delay medical help-seeking for ACS symptoms. Understanding patients’ experience of the symptoms and their response is essential in improving help-seeking behaviors and timely diagnosis and treatment for ACS. This study aimed to explore women’s experience of ACS, their response to the symptoms, and treatment-seeking decisions. </jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary referral specialized heart hospital affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Participants included 39 women who had experienced ACS for the first time. </jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Four main themes emerged from the analysis of interview transcripts: (1) the onset of symptoms, (2) the types of symptoms, (3) response to symptoms and (4) arriving at the hospital. These themes and associated sub-themes explained women’s experience of ACS symptoms, their response to the symptoms, and decision to seek medical help.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>This study identified and discussed factors contributing to the prehospital delay in women and their decision-making to seek medical care for ACS symptoms. The results are consistent with previous research indicating that ACS symptoms in women are somewhat different from men, and women tend to underestimate their symptoms and attribute them to non-cardiac causes. Women should be supported to develop awareness and understanding of ACS symptoms and appreciate the importance of early treatment-seeking in the disease outcomes.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12872-022-02892-3
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
dc.subject.classification	Cardiovascular System & Hematology
dc.title	Symptom recognition and treatment-seeking behaviors in women experiencing acute coronary syndrome for the first time: a qualitative study
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	22
utslib.for	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-11-29T05:02:05Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	22
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Abstract Background Women are more likely to delay medical help-seeking for ACS symptoms. Understanding patients’ experience of the symptoms and their response is essential in improving help-seeking behaviors and timely diagnosis and treatment for ACS. This study aimed to explore women’s experience of ACS, their response to the symptoms, and treatment-seeking decisions. Methods This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary referral specialized heart hospital affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Participants included 39 women who had experienced ACS for the first time. Results Four main themes emerged from the analysis of interview transcripts: (1) the onset of symptoms, (2) the types of symptoms, (3) response to symptoms and (4) arriving at the hospital. These themes and associated sub-themes explained women’s experience of ACS symptoms, their response to the symptoms, and decision to seek medical help. Conclusions This study identified and discussed factors contributing to the prehospital delay in women and their decision-making to seek medical care for ACS symptoms. The results are consistent with previous research indicating that ACS symptoms in women are somewhat different from men, and women tend to underestimate their symptoms and attribute them to non-cardiac causes. Women should be supported to develop awareness and understanding of ACS symptoms and appreciate the importance of early treatment-seeking in the disease outcomes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/163818