Korean J Adult Nurs.  2016 Aug;28(4):459-469. 10.7475/kjan.2016.28.4.459.

Gender Differences in Delay Seeking Treatment and Related Experiences in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

• Won MS
• Shin NM
• Kim E

• KMID: 2351409
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2016.28.4.459

Abstract

PURPOSE
This comparative descriptive study was to identify gender differences in delay seeking treatment and related experiences in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
METHODS
Ninety-seven participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital.
RESULTS
Mean age of 47 women was 71.5±13.3 while that of men was 55.0±10.9 (p<.001). More women lived alone and were jobless, less educated, and poorer than men. Men were likely to be 'current smokers' and drink alcohol, however viewed themselves healthier than women (p=.030). Women's hospital stay was 9.23±21.04 days while men's was 4.86±2.72 days (p=.014). More women had been diagnosed with hypertension (p=.040). Women appeared to report significantly less pain (6.46±3.1) than men (8.44±1.8). More men described their pain as sudden onset (p=.015) and chest pain as major symptom (p=.034) than women. More women were found alone upon onset of symptoms (p=.023) and had important reasons for delay seeking treatment (p=.021) than men. Median time from onset of symptoms to seeking medical service was 1.5 hours for men and 5.1 hours for women (p=.003). Median time taken from onset of symptoms to hospital for therapy was 3.5 hours for men and 9.1 hours for women (p=.019).
CONCLUSION
This study findings that women reported less pain and delayed in seeking treatment, suggest needs for strategies targeting women at risk of AMI.

MeSH Terms

Chest Pain
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Length of Stay
Male
Myocardial Infarction*
Tertiary Care Centers

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