Cue sensitivity in women with cardiac disease

The purpose of this study was to discover factors that influenced the healthcare seeking behavior of women cardiac patients. Interviews included 10 women with cardiac disease, two women at risk for cardiac disease, three advanced nurse practitioners, and one cardiologist. Participants were interviewed on two occasions. Taped transcripts were reviewed using a grounded theory approach. Analysis revealed a core process of cardiac cue sensitivity that originated in the period prior to entry into the healthcare system. The stages of this process included: cue apprehension, cue assimilation, and medical consultation. Cues were signs, symptoms, or self risk appraisal. Decisions to discount or attend to cues was dependent on the nature, intensity, and specificity of the cue to cardiac disease as well as the woman's knowledge and experience with cardiac disease and validation with others. A sensitivity to the subjective cue experiences of women and a recognition of public attitudes regarding women and cardiac disease facilitates their entry into the healthcare system and improves outcomes for women with cardiac disease.