Hospital arrival times and prehospital early interventions applied by accompanying relatives of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the interventions applying by patients' family members or accompanying people with acute myocardial infarction ( AMI) when sign and symptoms related to heart attack started or realized. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in an emergency department of a public hospital located in the city centre of Izmir between September 2005 and May 2006. Study population included members of family or accompanying friends of patients diagnosed as the result of cardiology consultation. The research sample consisted of 150 people who have matched the inclusion criteria. The study form composed of Intervention List included demographic characteristics of people, symptoms that patients complained of before arriving the hospital and interventions to cease the symptoms. Results: The mean time of arrival to the hospital was 29 +/- 32.3 minutes. When sign and symptoms started, 25.3% of participants provide more comfortable position to the patient (such as sitting or semi-sitting position), 16.7% gave the drugs of the patient, 13.3% called emergency aid (1-1-2) and 30.7% did not make an attempt during the symptoms started. It was found out that 41.3% of patients arrived to the emergency room with their car and 26.7% with ambulance. The rates of alerting emergency medical system were 35.3%. Patients and their relatives incline to relieve the complaints before they seek and urgent aid and calls emergency medical system if the symptoms persist. Conclusion: Providing the patients to admit sooner to the emergency departments by organizing public training campaigns should enhance the survival rates in acute myocardial infarction.