| Popis: |
Purpose: Women and minorities with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) often fail to recognize prodromal symptoms leading to delays in care. The objective of this study was to conduct a mixed method assessment of the impact of ethnicity on symptom description, recognition, and treatment-seeking behavior in Hispanic and non-Hispanic women before hospitalization for AMI. Methods: We explored differences in symptomatology, treatment-seeking behavior, and delay patterns among a convenience sample of 43 women diagnosed with AMI (17 Hispanic women, 26 non-Hispanic women) in seven rural and urban Colorado hospitals. We performed in-depth interviews to establish patterns (typologies) of treatment-seeking behaviors. Chart abstraction provided delay times as a function of ethnicity. Results: Most (28/43) women reported prodromal symptoms in the weeks before their index AMI. Overall, fewer Hispanic women presented within 24?h of symptom onset (3/18, 17% vs. 15/18, 83%, p |
