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Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a form of acute coronary syndrome, caused by deprivation of blood flow to the myocytes, leading to cell death (infarction). Early diagnosis, to determine if there is infarction, is essential for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. The period during which patients decide whether to seek treatment (treatment-seeking decision time [TSDT]) comprises 75% of the pre-hospital phase. Previous literature primarily focused on the factors prolonging TSDT, such as older age, bystander presence, and self-management. Notably, gender significantly impacts TSDT, with women prolonging treatment seeking due to misperception of MI as a men’s disease and prioritizing caregiver roles. Conversely, men hesitate to seek help to maintain control and uphold their masculine image and roles. Currently, there is a knowledge gap regarding the dimensions associated with prompt TSDT, and therefore, the influence of gender on the prompt treatment-seeking. This study initially aimed to explore the influence of gender on prompt treatment seeking experience in MI patients without gender restrictions. However, all eight participants with TSDT of 90 minutes or less were men, leading to a focus on men’s prompt treatment-seeking experiences. Guided by interpretive description and thematic analysis, key themes were generated: 1) evaluating symptoms, 2) the influence of gender, and 3) putting the pieces together. The findings indicated that the interplay of various dimensions holistically shaped men’s treatment decisions. Moreover, this study uniquely found that while traditional masculine roles can deter men from seeking help, they also motivated men to seek treatment promptly. Additionally, although men had continued perceptions of seeking help as a weakness, they created more inclusive masculinity that acknowledged the importance of help seeking. The absence of women in the sample highlighted the need to investigate the specific challenges they face during TSDT. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples and develop quantitative tools to measure the impact of gender norms on treatment-seeking behaviour. Nonetheless, this study offers a beginning understanding of the experience of prompt treatment seeking in men with MI and opens avenues for future research and gender-responsive interventions.