Cardiovascular Disease in Women: An Update for Nurses

Describing acute coronary syndrome symptom information on social media platforms

BACKGROUND

Social media is a common source of health-related information. However, more clarity regarding ACS symptom information posted on social media is needed.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to describe ACS symptom information on social media platforms, including Twitter (now named X), Instagram, and TikTok.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, qualitative descriptive design was used. The three social media platforms were searched in 2022 for posts containing ACS symptom information. A random sample of posts meeting inclusion was drawn. Posts were analyzed using a qualitative coding process, and network analysis was used to triangulate data.

RESULTS

Posts (N = 342) included in the final analysis were most often published by healthcare organizations (46.2 %), lay persons (20.8 %), or healthcare professionals (13.7 %). Five key themes were identified: 1) a focus on gendered symptom experiences, 2) diverse types of symptom messages (educational, emphasis on getting help, personal testimony, advertising, diagnostic help, research findings), 3) variety of specific symptoms mentioned, 4) different dimensions of symptoms included, and 5) varying levels of information quality and accuracy. Chest pain was the most common ACS symptom highlighted in posts, and symptom differences between men and women were often emphasized.

CONCLUSIONS

Of particular concern was incorrect or misleading ACS symptom information on social media that could create misconceptions and contribute to delays in seeking care for ACS. The findings from this study provide more insight into the ACS symptom information shared on social media platforms and provide preliminary information that can influence practice and future research.

Emergency Nurses' Recognition of and Perception of Sex Differences in Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Emergency nurses must quickly identify patients with potential acute coronary syndrome. However, no recent nationwide research has explored nurses' knowledge of acute coronary syndrome symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore emergency nurses' recognition of acute coronary syndrome symptoms, including whether nurses attribute different symptoms to women and men.

METHODS

We used a cross-sectional, descriptive design using an online survey. Emergency nurses from across the United States were recruited using postcards and a posting on the Emergency Nurses Association website. Demographic data and participants' recognition of acute coronary syndrome symptoms, using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptom Checklist, were collected. Descriptive statistics and ordinal regression were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The final sample included 448 emergency nurses with a median 7.0 years of emergency nursing experience. Participants were overwhelmingly able to recognize common acute coronary syndrome symptoms, although some symptoms were more often associated with women or with men. Most participants believed that women and men's symptoms were either "slightly different" (41.1%) or "fairly different" (42.6%). Nurses who completed training for the triage role were significantly less likely to believe that men and women have substantially different symptoms (odds ratio 0.47; 95% CI 0.25-0.87).

DISCUSSION

Emergency nurses were able to recognize common acute coronary syndrome symptoms, but some reported believing that the symptom experience of men and women is more divergent than what is reported in the literature.