Prehospital behaviour of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or witnessed cardiac arrest

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prehospital behaviour of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or witnessed cardiac arrest

AU - Ottesen, Michael Mundt

AU - Dixen, Ulrik

AU - Torp-Pedersen, Christian

AU - Køber, Lars

N1 - Keywords: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cohort Studies; Denmark; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heart Arrest; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Questionnaires; Risk Assessment; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To study prehospital behaviour of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or witnessed cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Structured interview of 250 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome and relatives of 48 patients with witnessed cardiac arrest. The following courses of action were studied: contact the emergency medical service (centre); contact the general practitioner from the emergency service or the general practitioner during working hours; self-transportation to the emergency department; or as the first action to call the emergency medical service. RESULTS: Forty-four per cent of the patients admitted with cardiac arrest expressed no prior symptoms. Two-thirds of patients with typical symptoms interpreted it as cardiac-still only half took action within 20 min. Fifty per cent of patients who called a physician were delayed by wrong advice or misinterpretation. One hundred and thirteen patients (45%) knew of thrombolytic therapy. Twenty-seven of 75 patients with knowledge of the benefit of prompt treatment with thrombolysis, acted in accordance with this awareness. CONCLUSION: Patients misinterpret symptoms of acute coronary syndrome and are misguided when calling for medical assistance. Perceiving jeopardy had positive influence on the behaviour. Awareness of therapeutic options influences the decision-making process.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To study prehospital behaviour of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or witnessed cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Structured interview of 250 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome and relatives of 48 patients with witnessed cardiac arrest. The following courses of action were studied: contact the emergency medical service (centre); contact the general practitioner from the emergency service or the general practitioner during working hours; self-transportation to the emergency department; or as the first action to call the emergency medical service. RESULTS: Forty-four per cent of the patients admitted with cardiac arrest expressed no prior symptoms. Two-thirds of patients with typical symptoms interpreted it as cardiac-still only half took action within 20 min. Fifty per cent of patients who called a physician were delayed by wrong advice or misinterpretation. One hundred and thirteen patients (45%) knew of thrombolytic therapy. Twenty-seven of 75 patients with knowledge of the benefit of prompt treatment with thrombolysis, acted in accordance with this awareness. CONCLUSION: Patients misinterpret symptoms of acute coronary syndrome and are misguided when calling for medical assistance. Perceiving jeopardy had positive influence on the behaviour. Awareness of therapeutic options influences the decision-making process.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12881155

SN - 1401-7431

VL - 37

SP - 141

EP - 148

JO - Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal

JF - Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal

IS - 3

ER -