Gender differences in the public’s conceptions of acute coronary syndrome-related chest pain

Abstract

Background

Symptoms often propel individuals to seek care. Chest pain is the most common acute coronary syndrome symptom, but an understanding of the public’s conceptions about chest pain is lacking.

Objectives

The objectives were to describe the general public’s conceptions of ACS-related chest pain, including the symptom dimensions quality, distress, intensity, and timing, and to compare those conceptions between women and men.

Methods

A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used, leveraging on online survey. Data were collected using the Chest Pain Conception Questionnaire, and conceptions were compared between women and men.

Results

The 597 participants were a mean 54.0 (SD 11.5) years of age and lived across the U.S. Based on 5-point Likert scales, specific descriptors of chest pain, such as pressure and tightness, were rated as more likely to represent ACS-related chest pain (M 4.23) than general descriptors, such as discomfort (M 3.28). Though common descriptors of ACS-related chest pain (e.g., pressure, tightness) were selected by > 70 % of the sample, only 13 % selected indigestion. Most participants (n = 503, 84.3 %) associated ACS-related chest pain with the left chest. Participants believed that ACS-related chest pain would be “intense” (MDN 4.0) and distress them “a lot” (MDN 4.0). Few differences were identified between women and men.

Conclusions

Participants believed that ACS-related chest pain would be sudden, overwhelming, and experienced in the left chest. Given these findings, health care professionals are advised to address misconceptions about chest pain through individual education and public health messaging campaigns.