Understanding delays in care-seeking behavior in heart failure: a comprehensive scoping review

Delays in seeking medical care are common among patients with HF and are shaped by multiple interacting factors. Future studies should adopt standardized definitions, apply validated assessment tools, and utilize longitudinal designs to clarify causal relationships. Interventions targeting symptom awareness, health literacy, and psychological support-particularly among older adults and those in rural areas-may help reduce avoidable delays and improve clinical outcomes.