A media campaign aiming at reducing delay times and increasing the use of ambulance in AMI

Am J Emerg Med. 1994 May;12(3):315-8. doi: 10.1016/0735-6757(94)90147-3.

Abstract

To improve the prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) if treatment by early instituting treatment, we initiated a media campaign during 1 year with the intention to reduce delay times and increase ambulance use in patients with acute chest pain. This article describes the outcome during 3 years after the campaign was finished. The median delay time in patients with AMI was reduced from 3 hours 0 min before the campaign to 2 hours 20 minutes during the year of the campaign (P < .001). The median delay time remained at a similar level (2 hours 20 min) during the 3 years after the campaign. Ambulance use was not affected during or after the campaign. It can be concluded that a media campaign resulted in a reduction of delay times not only during the campaign, but also during 3 years after its performance, whereas ambulance use was not affected.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ambulances / statistics & numerical data*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Education / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Media*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / mortality*
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Time Management*
  • Transportation of Patients / trends*