Bristol PCT ... Living with heart disease - survey of primary care coronary heart disease patients in Bristol
The ‘Living with Heart Disease’ patient postal questionnaire was conducted within 16 GP practices in Bristol, selected for having high proportions of patients of South Asian origin. The survey was designed to examine coronary heart disease (CHD) patients’ knowledge and awareness of CHD; issues of access to primary care CHD services; communication and information; their involvement in decisions about care, and social support.
Patients, in general, reported poor awareness of the necessity to seek urgent medical attention when experiencing severe chest pain. In particular White respondents were approximately three-times more likely to seek urgent action than South Asians. Agreement between patient self-reported diagnosis and medical record of diagnosis varied by CHD condition. White respondents were more likely than South Asians to give false negative answers for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) diagnoses. South Asians were more likely than White respondents to highlight problems in accessing CHD health care services, communicating with health care professionals, and in receiving sufficient information regarding their CHD condition. In addition, South Asian patients were less likely to feel involved in decisions regarding their CHD care, but were more likely to feel supported by friends and family outside the GP surgery than White respondents.
The findings suggest the need to increase awareness of CHD amongst all patients,
including the potential to adopt innovative health education amongst South Asian
patients in particular. Interventions that aim to empower patients to become more
informed and active consumers of health care should be developed and evaluated.
Download summary of key findings