Abstract
African Americans have been shown to have longer delay times than the majority population in seeking care for acute cardiac problems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether socioeconomic factors affect delay times. Structured interviews were administered to 254 African Americans admitted to a public hospital and 194 African Americans admitted to a private hospital for suspected acute myocardial infarction. Patient characteristics found by multiple regression analysis to affect decision-making and travel time for care-seeking were structural access to care, persistence of symptoms, degree of incapacitation, consultation with a layperson, consultation with medical professionals, and mode of transportation. Within-group differences were found to be related to socioeconomic status. Strategies to increase knowledge about heart attack symptoms, improve access to care, and improve the socioeconomic status of at-risk African Americans are indicated.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
