The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74643

Roxanne Struthers, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University Of Minnesota, 6-113 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-8637, strut005@tc.umn.edu and Felicia S. Hodge, DrPH, Center for American Indian Research and Education, University of Minnesota, 6-125B Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently the number one killer of American women. Consequently, CVD is a concern for all women, including ethnic women. However, little is known about CVD behaviors and responses to CVD symptomology among minority women, especially American Indian women. Response behaviors to chest pain require important actions. This paper examines response behaviors to chest pain in a group of 866 American Indian women participants of the Inter-Tribal Heart Project. In 1992 to 1994, American Indian women ages 22 and older, participated in survey interviews on cardiovascular disease on three rural reservations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A secondary data analysis was conducted on selected variables including demographic characteristics, health care data, and action in response to crushing chest pain that lasted longer than 15 minutes. Research findings show that 583 women (68%) would actively seek health care right away if experiencing crushing chest pain that lasted longer than 15 minutes. However, 264 women (32%) would take a passive action to crushing chest pain, with 198 (23%) reporting they would sit down and wait until it passed. Analysis revealed women reporting a passive response were younger in age (under age 45) and had less education (less than a high school education). These findings have implications for health care providers working in rural, geographically isolated Indian reservations. How to present CVD education in a culturally appropriate manner remains a challenge.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the presentation, participants will
• understand the responses of American Indian women to crushing chest pain and the
• implications for cardiovascular disease prevention efforts with this population.

Keywords: American Indians, Heart Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.