Responding to symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction—How do you educate the public?: A social-psychologic approach to intervention

In an era of highly time-dependent therapies for acute myocardial infarction—namely thrombolytic therapy and cardiopulmonary resuscitation—it is imperative that public education programs facilitate expeditious care-seeking. However, community intervention studies to reduce the interval of time—from the onset of an acute myocardial infarction to arrival at a hospital emergency department—have shown ambiguous results. To understand and reduce this time interval, a theoretic model is proposed that draws from self-regulation theory. The combined model focuses on three issues: first, information for systematic sign-and-symptom recognition and labeling; second, behavioral information as to what to do in the event of an acute myocardial infarction; and third, information on how to control affective and emotional responses that may interfere with effective coping. Seven recommendations are made for guiding community intervention with use of the proposed model. (Heart Lung® 1997;26:263-72)