Heart failure specific somatic awareness and symptom pattern predicted delay in care-seeking prior to admission, whereas uncertainty did not predict delay.
Observational
Symptom monitoring is difficult for heart failure (HF) patients. Difficulties physically sensing and determining symptom meaning may lead to uncertainty and delay treatment. Somatic awareness may provide insight into symptom monitoring ability. A model combining physical and cognitive aspects of the symptom experience was developed to examine factors affecting care-seeking among HF patients. Adults hospitalized with acute HF were interviewed and completed questionnaires measuring somatic awareness and uncertainty. HF symptom duration prior to admission measured delay. HF specific somatic awareness and symptom pattern predicted delay. Uncertainty correlated with somatic awareness, but did not predict delay. Few responded to early HF symptoms delaying until acutely ill. Development of interventions to improve symptom monitoring is needed.
Corrine Y. Jurgens (Sun,) conducted a observational in Acute heart failure. Somatic awareness and uncertainty was evaluated on Delay in care-seeking (heart failure symptom duration prior to admission). Heart failure specific somatic awareness and symptom pattern predicted delay in care-seeking prior to admission, whereas uncertainty did not predict delay.
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