RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of a mass media campaign on presentations and ambulance use for acute coronary syndrome
JF Open Heart
JO Open Heart
FD British Cardiovascular Society
SP e001792
DO 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001792
VO 8
IS 2
A1 Kathryn Eastwood
A1 Stuart Howell
A1 Ziad Nehme
A1 Judith Finn
A1 Karen Smith
A1 Peter Cameron
A1 Dion Stub
A1 Janet E Bray
YR 2021
UL http://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001792.abstract
AB Objective Between 2009 and 2013, the National Heart Foundation of Australia ran mass media campaigns to improve Australian’s awareness of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms and the need to call emergency medical services (EMS). This study examined the impact of this campaign on emergency department (ED) presentations and EMS use in Victoria, Australia.Methods The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services provided data for adult Victorian patients presenting to public hospitals with an ED diagnosis of ACS or unspecified chest pain (U-CP). We modelled changes in the incidence of ED presentations, and the association between the campaign period and (1) EMS arrival and (2) referred to ED by a general practitioner (GP). Models were adjusted for increasing population size, ACS subtype and demographics.Results Between 2003 and 2015, there were 124 632 eligible ED presentations with ACS and 536 148 with U-CP. In patients with ACS, the campaign period was associated with an increase in ED presentations (incidence rate ratio: 1.11; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.15), a decrease in presentations via a GP (adjusted OR (AOR): 0.77; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.86) and an increase in EMS use (AOR: 1.10; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.17). Similar, but smaller associations were seen in U-CP.Conclusions The Warning Signs Campaign was associated with improvements in treatment seeking in patients with ACS—including increased EMS use. The increase in ACS ED presentations corresponds with a decrease in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest over this time. Future education needs to focus on improving EMS use in ACS patient groups where use remains low.No data are available. Data are not available from the authors due to contractual arrangements. Data are available on request from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.