AN EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS OF MEDIA AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO SHORTEN THE TIME TAKEN BY PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION TO DECIDE TO GO TO HOSPITAL

Objective-To describe the benefits and pitfalls of educational campaig ns designed to reduce the delay between the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its treatment. Methods-All seven educational camp aigns reported between 1982 and 1994 were evaluated. Results-The impac t on delay time ranged from a reduction of patient decision time by 35 % to no reduction. One study reported a sustained reduction that resul ted in the delay time being halved during the three years sifter the c ampaign. The use of ambulances did not increase. Only one study report ed that survival was unaffected. There was a temporary increase in the numbers of patients admitted to the emergency department with non-car diac chest pain in the initial phase of educational campaigns. Conclus ion-The challenge of shortening the delay between the onset of infarct ion and the start of treatment remains. The campaigns so far have not been proved to be worthwhile and it is not certain that further campai gns will do better. New media campaigns should be run to establish whe ther a different type of message is more likely to change the behaviou r of people in this life-threatening situation.