How patients responded to symptoms had vital impact on prehospital delay among both genders, but the experience and interpretation of symptoms had more influence in men than in women.
The purpose of this study was to compare symptom presentation and illness behavior among women and men with acute myocardial infarction and assess various aspects that influence prehospital delay. This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study using self-reported questionnaires. The sample consisted of 82 women and men in Norway, up to 65 years of age, with first-time acute myocardial infarction between March and October 1999. The findings demonstrated that the most commonly reported symptom in both genders was chest pain. More than 90% of women and men experienced chest pain, with no difference between the genders. More women than men had nausea as well as pain located in their arms, back, jaw, and throat. More men than women attributed their symptoms to be cardiac in origin. Experiencing pain in the shoulders, attributing symptoms to be noncardiac, consulting a family member, and contacting several medical practitioners increased prehospital delay. During the year before the event, women were more likely to experience fatigue than men. The conclusion of this study is that women experienced a greater diversity of symptoms than men. Acute symptoms, interpretation of symptoms, and illness behavior may influence prehospital delay.
Women were less likely to experience chest symptoms and more likely to experience atypical symptoms than men. Symptom experience and the patients' expectations of symptoms influenced interpretation and attribution among both sexes.
The process between symptom onset and hospital admittance is complex, and more knowledge about factors influencing this process is vital to reduce pre-hospital delay. Significant others should be included in information-giving in relation to myocardial infarction as they seem to play a vital role in patients' decision-making processes.
Citation for the original published paper (version of record):Løvlien, M., Mundal, L., Hall-Lord, M-L. (2015) Physical activity in women after an acute myocardial infarction.. ABSTRACT Background: Physical activity is recognized as being important in reducing mortality after an acute myocardial infarction. The study aimed to describe younger and older women's leisure time physical activity after an acute myocardial infarction, their motivations and barriers for engaging in physical activity and to assess aspects associated with referral and attendance in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Methods: Women diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction were consecutively recruited and answered a questionnaire 2-3 months after hospital discharge.
Journal of Nursing Education andResults: The majority of the respondents (86%) were physically active after their acute myocardial infarction and 34% were physically active ≥ 4 days a week for ≥ 30 minutes. Respondents ≥ 66 years were less likely than respondents < 66 years to report moderate physical activity (39% vs. 58%, p = .03) and more likely to report low physical activity (27% vs. 8%, p < .01). No differences were found between these age groups reporting high physical activity (34% vs. 34%). Respondents ≥ 66 years were also less likely than younger respondents to maintain or increase their physical activity after the acute event (59% vs. 76%, p < .01), to be informed about the significance of physical activity while in hospital (61% vs. 80%, p = .01), to be referred to a cardiac rehabilitation programme (49% vs. 75%, p ≤ .01) and to attend such a programme (30% vs. 65%, p < .01). Conclusions: Women's age was associated with physical activity as well as their possibilities regarding cardiac rehabilitation after an acute myocardial infarction.
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