Acute chest pain in African Americans: factors in the delay in seeking emergency care
- PMID: 8203694
- PMCID: PMC1614961
- DOI: 10.2105/ajph.84.6.965
Acute chest pain in African Americans: factors in the delay in seeking emergency care
Abstract
Objectives: African Americans have been shown to have longer delay times than the majority population in seeking care for acute cardiac problems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether socioeconomic factors affect delay times.
Methods: Structured interviews were administered to 254 African Americans admitted to a public hospital and 194 African Americans admitted to a private hospital for suspected acute myocardial infarction.
Results: Patient characteristics found by multiple regression analysis to affect decision-making and travel time for care-seeking were structural access to care, persistence of symptoms, degree of incapacitation, consultation with a layperson, consultation with medical professionals, and mode of transportation.
Conclusions: Within-group differences were found to be related to socioeconomic status. Strategies to increase knowledge about heart attack symptoms, improve access to care, and improve the socioeconomic status of at-risk African Americans are indicated.
Similar articles
-
Effect of race on the presentation and management of patients with acute chest pain.Ann Intern Med. 1993 Apr 15;118(8):593-601. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-118-8-199304150-00004. Ann Intern Med. 1993. PMID: 8452325
-
Delayed presentation for care during acute myocardial infarction in a Hispanic population of Los Angeles County.Ethn Dis. 2002 Winter;12(1):38-44. Ethn Dis. 2002. PMID: 11913607
-
Differential perceptions, behaviors, and motivations among African Americans, Latinos, and whites suspected of heart attacks in two hospital populations.J Assoc Acad Minor Phys. 1995;6(2):60-9. J Assoc Acad Minor Phys. 1995. PMID: 7772934
-
Typical and atypical clinical signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and delayed seeking of professional care among blacks.Am J Crit Care. 1997 Jan;6(1):7-13; quiz 14-5. Am J Crit Care. 1997. PMID: 9116790 Review.
-
Delay between onset of chest pain and arrival to the coronary care unit among minority and disadvantaged patients.J Natl Med Assoc. 1993 Mar;85(3):180-4. J Natl Med Assoc. 1993. PMID: 8474130 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
An exploration of the complex relationship of socioecologic factors in the treatment and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in disadvantaged populations.Health Serv Res. 2001 Aug;36(4):711-32. Health Serv Res. 2001. PMID: 11508636 Free PMC article.
-
Cardiac instrument development in a low-literacy population: the revised Chest Discomfort Diary.Heart Lung. 2001 Jul-Aug;30(4):312-20. doi: 10.1067/mhl.2001.116136. Heart Lung. 2001. PMID: 11449218 Free PMC article.
-
Healthcare system interventions for inequality in quality: corrective action through evidence-based medicine.J Natl Med Assoc. 2002 Aug;94(8 Suppl):83S-91S. J Natl Med Assoc. 2002. PMID: 12152918 Free PMC article.
-
Causes of chest pain and symptoms suggestive of acute cardiac ischemia in African-American patients presenting to the emergency department: a multicenter study.J Natl Med Assoc. 1997 Oct;89(10):665-71. J Natl Med Assoc. 1997. PMID: 9347680 Free PMC article.
-
Do patient preferences contribute to racial differences in cardiovascular procedure use?J Gen Intern Med. 1997 May;12(5):267-73. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.012005267.x. J Gen Intern Med. 1997. PMID: 9159695 Free PMC article.
References
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
