Factors Influencing Prehospital Delay in Seeking Medical Treatment among Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Abstract Introduction: Myocardial Infarction need prompt intervention within the first hour of symptom onset is crucial for reducing mortality rates. The likelihood of death or complications is heavily influenced by the speed at which treatment is administered after symptoms appear. Treatment delay is the duration between symptom onset and the point at which the patient achieves stability after receiving care. The current study investigates factors contributing to decision time for seeking medical help and home-to-hospital delay. Addressing these factors effectively can significantly improve patient prognosis. Objectives: To assess the factors influencing prehospital delay in seeking medical treatment among myocardial infarction patients. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted with a sample size of 100 myocardial infarction patients admitted to M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bangalore. Non- probability convenient sampling techniques were used to select the samples. Data was collected using a self- administered questionnaire to assess the influencing prehospital delay in seeking medical treatment. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to identify the major factors. Results: A descriptive statistical analysis showed the majority (81%) of the subjects were male while the mean age was 60.13 with a standard deviation of ±13.577. Maximum subjects were found to have a chronic illness among them 42% have hypertension. The most common symptoms felt by the subjects were excessive sweating (53%) followed by chest pain (47%) and shoulder pain (42%). More than half (53%) of the subjects did not consider the symptoms seriously. A significant portion (37%) of the subjects experienced symptoms between 8 pm to 2 am. Maximum subjects were found to have a chronic illness among them 42% have hypertension. Even after the majority (58%) of the subjects were within 0 to 10 km away from the hospital, the maximum (44%) reached the hospital after 1 hour and within hours of symptom onset. The major (61%) reason for the delay was not taking symptoms seriously and waiting for them to subside independently (68%). as well as misperceiving the cardiac symptoms with symptoms of Gastritis (43%) followed by 29% of the subjects went to the nearby clinic after symptoms onset. Interpretation and conclusion: The study concluded that there were significant delays in seeking treatment due to emotional factors where many subjects didn’t take symptoms seriously, social factors; most experiencing symptoms late at night, leading to a wait- and-see approach, and cognitive factors; misinterpreting symptoms as gastritis were common. However, there were no significant delays in transportation or treatment initiation by healthcare providers.