Psychological and knowledge factors related to delay of help-seeking by patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Survival of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and subsequent prognosis are highly dependent on the time between onset of symptoms and medical intervention. The purpose of this study is to investigate which psychological and cardiovascular knowledge factors may contribute to the time the AMI patient takes to decide to seek medical help (patient delay). Three hundred patients took part in the study. They were interviewed and filled out several psychological questionnaires. The results show that patients who ask for medical help within half an hour have more cardiovascular knowledge, seek less distraction and more social support during the acute phase, compared to patients waiting longer. In general those who call soon appear to have easing thoughts in case of personal difficulties. They also deny their feelings of resentment to a lesser degree and interpret the symptoms of an AMI more often as originating in the heart. Future education campaigns should therefore not only address cardiovascular knowledge, but also coping and defense mechanisms.