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Barriers to managing coronary artery disease among older women
Shirley Musich1, Ronald J Ozminkowski, Frank G Bottone
1a OptumInsight , Ann Arbor , MI.
Insights
Managing coronary artery disease (CAD) in older women faces barriers like denial and low health literacy. Improving patient awareness and doctor-patient communication can help overcome these challenges for better heart health management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) management in older women is complex.
- Existing research often overlooks demographic and health status variations.
- Identifying specific barriers is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze barriers to coronary artery disease management in older women.
- To assess the impact of these barriers on healthcare utilization.
- To inform strategies for improving CAD care in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Survey distributed to a stratified random sample of older women with CAD.
- Factor analysis used to identify underlying barrier structures.
- Multiple logistic regression analyzed the impact of barriers on office visits.
Main Results:
- Denial and low health literacy emerged as the most significant barriers.
- These factors were associated with reduced access to CAD-related care.
- Demographic and health status adjustments were made.
Conclusions:
- Targeted interventions addressing patient awareness and health literacy are needed.
- Enhanced patient-clinician communication can mitigate management barriers.
- Future efforts should focus on patient-centered strategies for older women with CAD.
Abstract:
Numerous barriers to managing coronary artery disease (CAD) among older women are reported in the literature; however, few studies adjust for demographic and health status differences. A survey assessing barriers and other factors was distributed to a stratified random sampling of older women with CAD. Factor analysis and multiple logistic regression procedures were used to estimate the impact of these issues on receiving a CAD-related office visit. The most problematic barriers included denial and low health literacy. Efforts to promote patient awareness of heart health and better communication between patients and clinicians may alleviate these barriers.
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