PropertyValue
?:abstract
  • OBJECTIVE: A number of studies have explored delayed help-seeking practices for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and have indentified multiple intersecting factors which may play a role, for example, attributing symptoms, age, gender, ethnicity and contextual influences. However, the pathway to diagnosis for suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) symptoms in a rapid access chest pain clinic (RACPC) context is underexplored. The objective of this study was to examine patients’ help-seeking experiences of accessing RACPC services, from the point at which they notice and interpret symptoms, to their decision to seek help from their general practitioner. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Interviews were conducted in the RACPC at Queen Mary’s Roehampton Hospital, London, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Maximum variation sampling was used to recruit 30 participants (15 men and 15 women) referred to a RACPC, using sampling dimensions of age, ethnicity and occupation. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews focussed on the patient experience of their pathway to the RACPC. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data. RESULTS: Participant interpretation of symptoms was shaped by multiple influences; reluctance to seek help contributed to delay; various factors acted as drivers as well as barriers to help-seeking; and GP referrals to RACPC were based on symptoms as well as patients’ need for reassurance. CONCLUSION: We found complex issues shaped the patient’s decision-making when accessing the RACPC, including making sense of symptoms and help-seeking practices. These findings can be used to develop health promotion literature to encourage early help-seeking and improve RACPC services.
is ?:annotates of
?:creator
?:doi
  • 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040468
?:doi
?:journal
  • BMJ_Open
?:license
  • cc-by-nc
?:pdf_json_files
  • document_parses/pdf_json/4cb256439bf97b45c7a75bf92b1437edaad029aa.json; document_parses/pdf_json/68d231125f56c48c60f3025e7b06054cc65423bf.json; document_parses/pdf_json/601b0337711fc637d15f8957b17ab41cd3f375a0.json
?:pmc_json_files
  • document_parses/pmc_json/PMC7678391.xml.json
?:pmcid
?:pmid
?:pmid
  • 33444203.0
?:publication_isRelatedTo_Disease
?:sha_id
?:source
  • Medline; PMC
?:title
  • An Exploration of the help-seeking experiences of patients in an allied professions-led rapid access chest pain pathway: a qualitative study
?:type
?:year
  • 2020-11-19

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