The impact of the family and lay others on care-seeking during life-threatening episodes of suspected coronary artery disease.

To understand the impact of the family on care-seeking during a suspected episode of acute coronary artery disease (CAD) interviews were conducted with 1102 individuals hospitalized for a suspected myocardial infarction. Analyzing the care-seeking behavior of these individuals within life threatening illness behavior and situational perspectives, bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that family members, especially a spouse, had both positive and negative influences on the duration of time between acute symptom onset and arrival at a hospital emergency room. To reduce both the morbid and mortal consequences of acute CAD it is recommended that we direct our intervention efforts toward warning the public of situational circumstances which contribute to extended self treatment and evaluation during acute episodes of CAD.