BARRIERS AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION MORTALITY FROM THE LENS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN KARACHI

Abstract

One of the main causes of cardiovascular death is myocardial infarction (MI), which calls for quick action during the crucial "Golden Hour." Nursing personnel are essential to the early diagnosis and treatment of MI. In the context of MI management, there is a lack of local data that explicitly provides the reasons and strategies of MI mortality in Pakistan. This is qualitative research. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the barriers and strategies for reducing myocardial infarction. The sample is selected using a convenient sampling technique. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews from the sample of 12 nurses and patients/patients ‘family. All the ethical considerations were followed using BERA framework. After the data collection, the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Deductive approach was used in the theme categorization. The major themes under the heading barriers to MI care were frontline competency gap, physician latency and commercialization in care. The prominent themes for strategies are workforce upskilling, permanent specialist presence, and ethical re alignment. The recommendations are to provide enough ECG machines. ACLS course certification should be mandatory for nurses in critical areas and ethical guidelines regarding patients’ life safety must be moderated.

Keywords: Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, Barriers, Challenges, Nurses, Cardiologists.