A study on how the people having experienced myocardial infarction for the first time decide to seek treatment

Objective: To explore how the patients with first time acute myocardial infarction make decision to seek treatment after the symptoms have started.Method: This research is a qualitative study and was performed by using the grounded theory design. It is carried on in the clinic of cardiology in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital. Maximum variation sampling technique is performed. 30 patients who have first AMI forms the sample of this study. The data are gathered with the method of `in-depth interview? using `semi-structered interview form?. All of the interviews are recorded after having get permission from the patients. Data are assessed through the method of `inductive-content analysis?.Findings: In this research it is found that the average and median latency of the patients is stated respectively as seven hours (436,67min.) and 90 minutes. According to the results we found that; severity of the pain, persists for a long time, unexpected pain, adding new symptoms, ineffective actions, association with heart, fear of death, fear of disability, the insistence of others, experiences related heart attack gained from relatives and having information about heart attack are encouraged the patients to seek treatment..Conclusion and Recommendation: If patients want to get medical treatment in the early period, they should be aware of the situation. In general society, in particular coronary artery disease by targeting individuals with AMI symptoms and the importance of early treatment programs should be developed. Media campaigns can be useful. There is a need for researches that examine the society's perception of health problems.Key words: acute myocardial infarction, nursing, prehospital delay, seeking treatment, decision making, grounded theory