The Association between Early Self-Perception of Af Symptoms and Seeking Medical Advice: Exploring the Differences in Gender and Menopause Stages (L03)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common dysarthria and an invisible killer of stroke and heart failure. However, most of the AF patients are in the middle and older age groups before and after menopause and some AF symptoms overlap with menopausal symptoms. Would the overlap cause patients to dismiss their AF symptoms and delay their medical treatments? Would different gender have different self-perceptions of AF symptoms and influences on delayed medical treatment? Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the association between early self-perceptions of AF symptoms and seeking medical advice, specifically the differences in gender and women’s menopause stages. This study is intended to be a three-year project, which will recruit subjects from outpatient clinics and wards. We will execute qualitative research first and analyze the results as a reference to the quantitative research next. Then through the questionnaires of "AF symptom survey" and " Menopause symptom survey ", we will analyze and summarize the qualitative and quantitative findings associated with AF patients’ early self-perceptions of AF symptoms and seeking medical advice, in terms of their gender differences and women’s menopause stages. We look forward to providing care guidance to AF patients by exploring their experiences of early AF symptoms in different gender and life stages and understanding the help they need. It will help patients correctly recognize and deal with AF symptoms and seek medical treatment early to prevent stroke, heart failure, and other serious complications.

Project ID:PF10708-0680
External Project ID:MOST107-2629-B182-001