| 1. |
- Henriksson, Catrin, et al.
(författare)
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Knowledge and attitudes toward seeking medical care for AMI-symptoms
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 147:2, s. 224-227
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Time is crucial when an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs, but patients often wait before seeking medical care. Aim: To investigate and compare patients' and relatives' knowledge of AMI, attitudes toward seeking medical care, and intended behaviour if AMI-symptoms occur. Methods: The present study was a descriptive, multicentre study. Participants were AMI-patients <= 75 years (n = 364) and relatives to AMI-patients (n = 319). Questionnaires were used to explore the participants' knowledge of AMI and attitudes toward seeking medical care. Results: Both patients and relatives appeared to act more appropriate to someone else's chest pain than to their own. Patients did not have better knowledge of AMI-symptoms than relatives. Women would more often contact someone else before seeking medical care. A greater percentage of elderly (65-75 years), compared to younger individuals, reported that they would call for an ambulance if chest pain occurred. Conclusions: There were only minor differences between patients and relatives, regarding both knowledge and attitudes. It seems easier to act correctly as a bystander than as a patient. Therefore, in order to decrease patients' delay time it is important to educate relatives as well as patients on how to respond to symptoms of an AMI.
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| 2. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Factors of importance for patients' decision time in acute coronary syndrome
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 141:3, s. 236-242
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Not much is known about the patients' decision time in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the survey was therefore to describe patients' decision time and factors associated with this parameter in ACS. METHODS: We conducted a national survey comprising intensive cardiac care units at 11 hospitals in Sweden in which patients with ACS diagnosis and symptoms onset outside hospital participated. Main outcome measures were patients' decision time and factors associated with patients' decision time. RESULTS: In all, 1939 patients took part in the survey. The major factors associated with a shorter patient decision time were: 1) ST-elevation ACS, 2) associated symptoms such as vertigo or near syncope, 3) interpreting the symptoms as cardiac in origin, 4) pain appearing suddenly and reaching a maximum within minutes, 5) having knowledge of the importance of quickly seeking medical care and 6) experiencing the symptoms as frightening. The following aspects of the disease were associated with a longer decision time: 1) pain was localised in the back and 2) symptom onset at home when alone. CONCLUSION: A number of factors, including the type of ACS, the type and localisation of symptoms, the place where symptoms occurred, patients' interpretation of symptoms and knowledge were all associated with patients' decision time in connection with ACS.
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| 3. |
- Thuresson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Factors that influence the use of ambulance in acute coronary syndrome.
- 2008
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Ingår i: American heart journal. - Amsterdam : Elsevier BV. - 1097-6744 .- 0002-8703. ; 156:1, s. 170-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: National guidelines recommend activation of the emergency medical service by patients who have symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In spite of this, only 50% to 60% of persons with myocardial infarction initiate care by using the emergency medical service. The aim of this study was to define factors influencing the use of ambulance in ACS. METHODS: The method used in this study was a national survey comprising intensive cardiac care units at 11 hospitals in Sweden; 1,939 patients with diagnosed ACS and symptom onset outside the hospital completed a questionnaire a few days after admission. RESULTS: Half of the patients went to the hospital by ambulance. Factors associated with ambulance use were knowledge of the importance of quickly seeking medical care and calling for an ambulance when having chest pain (odds ratio [OR] 3.61, 95% CI 2.43-5.45), abrupt onset of pain reaching maximum intensity within minutes (OR 2.08, 1.62-2.69), nausea or cold sweat (OR 2.02, 1.54-2.65), vertigo or near syncope (OR 1.63, 1.21-2.20), ST-elevation ACS (OR 1.58, 1.21-2.06), increasing age (per year) (OR 1.03, 1.02-1.04), previous history of heart failure (OR 2.48, 1.47-4.26), and distance to the hospital of >5 km (OR 2.0, 1.55-2.59). Those who did not call for an ambulance thought self-transport would be faster or did not believe they were sick enough. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms, patient characteristics, ACS characteristics, and perceptions and knowledge were all associated with ambulance use in ACS. The fact that knowledge increases ambulance use and the need for behavioral change pose a challenge for health-care professionals.
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| 4. |
- Thuresson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Symptoms and type of symptom onset in acute coronary syndrome in relation to ST elevation, sex, age, and a history of diabetes
- 2005
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Ingår i: Am Heart J. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-6744 .- 0002-8703. ; 150:2, s. 234-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Various efforts to reduce patient delay in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have had limited success. One reason might be a misinterpretation of the symptoms of ACS. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the characteristics and severity of symptoms among patients with an ACS in overall terms and in relation to the type of ACS, sex, age, and diabetes. METHODS: A total of 1939 patients at 11 hospitals in Sweden answered a questionnaire containing questions relating to the localization and intensity of symptoms, the presence of associated symptoms, the characteristics and experience of pain/symptoms, and the type of symptom onset. RESULTS: Patients with ST elevation differed from those without by more frequently having associated symptoms. They had higher pain/discomfort intensity and more frequently had pain with abrupt onset reaching maximum intensity within minutes. However, this type of symptom onset was only seen in less than half the patients with ST elevation and only 1 in 5 fulfilled all the criteria usually associated with a severe heart attack. Women differed from men in a few respects. They more frequently reported pain/discomfort in the neck or jaw and back, vomiting, and scored their pain/discomfort slightly higher than men. Differences between age groups were minor and there was no difference between patients with and without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The most striking finding was the low proportion of patients with the type of symptoms that are commonly associated with ACS. This is important for the planning of educational campaigns/programs to reduce patient delay.
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| 5. |
- Thuresson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Thoughts, actions, and factors associated with prehospital delay in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Heart & Lung. - Amsterdam : Elsevier BV. - 0147-9563 .- 1527-3288. ; 36:6, s. 398-409
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The objective was to study patients’ interpretations, thoughts, and actions after symptom onset in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in total and in relation to gender, age, history of coronary artery disease, type of syndrome, and residential area and its influence on prehospital delay. Setting We performed a national survey comprising intensive cardiac care units at 11 hospitals in Sweden. Method A total of 1939 patients with diagnosed ACS and symptom onset outside hospital completed a questionnaire containing standardized questions within 3 days after admission. Results Three-quarters of the patients interpreted their symptoms as cardiac in origin, and the most common reason was that they knew someone who had had an acute myocardial infarction. The majority contacted a family member, whereas only 3% directly called for an ambulance. Interpreting the symptoms as cardiac in origin and severe pain were major reasons for deciding to seek medical care. Approaching someone after symptom onset and the belief that the symptoms were cardiac in origin were factors associated with a shorter prehospital delay, whereas taking medication to relieve pain resulted in the opposite. The reaction pattern was influenced by gender, age, a history of coronary artery disease, and the type of ACS, but to a lesser extent by residential area. Conclusions Interpreting symptoms as cardiac in origin and approaching someone after symptom onset were major reasons for a shorter prehospital delay in ACS.
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