Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Student Research Committee, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. QUEST Center for Responsible Research, BIH, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
Background: Stroke is a major neurological emergency with serious individual and public health consequences. Patients’ responses and decision-making at symptom onset play a critical role in timely treatment. This study aimed to explore the strategies adopted by stroke patients when confronted with early symptoms.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2025 using a conventional content analysis approach. Nineteen participants, including stroke patients and their relatives, were purposively recruited from hospitals affiliated with Lorestan and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s method. Trustworthiness was ensured based on Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Data analysis was supported by MAXQDA version 18.
Results: Content analysis yielded 1,978 codes, which were organized into three main categories: Seeking Help, Expectancy, and Excited Response. Subcategories included contacting EMS, symptom management, stroke denial, concealment, fatalism, understanding the threat, and lack of knowledge about EMS.
Conclusion: Patients’ responses to acute stroke are influenced by emotional, cognitive, and structural factors. Emotional reactions, limited awareness of EMS, and personal beliefs contributed to delays in seeking care and loss of the therapeutic window. Targeted, culturally sensitive education and improved access to EMS may enhance timely response and stroke outcomes.
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