Title
Help-seeking behaviors of blacks and whites dying from coronary heart disease
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Date
1-4-2003
Document Type
Article
Subjects
African Americans; Aged; Boston; Coronary Disease; Death Certificates; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Terminal Care; Terminally Ill
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Women's Studies
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether blacks and whites with life-threatening cardiac events differ in likelihood of help seeking, types of help sought, or likelihood of reaching the hospital before death.
DESIGN: Death certificates were used to identify all coronary heart disease-related deaths occurring in 1988-89 among 45- to 74-year-old, black and white, non-institutionalized residents of three contiguous inner-city districts in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. An informant was interviewed about the decedent's health status, access to care and pre-mortal help-seeking behaviors.
RESULTS: Among the 232 decedents analyzed, there were no racial differences in the likelihood of help seeking. Among those who sought help, there were no racial differences in the likelihood of reaching the hospital. However, blacks were more likely than whites to engage in two specific help-seeking behaviors: calling the 911 emergency system, and trying to reach an emergency room.
CONCLUSION: In an area where blacks and whites were similar with respect to socioeconomic status and access to care, race did not affect the likelihood of help seeking or the likelihood of succeeding in reaching the hospital before death.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Ethn Health. 2002 May;7(2):77-86. Link to article on publisher’s site
Related Resources
PubMed ID
12511195
