Treading carefully: a qualitative ethnographic study of the clinical, social and educational uses of exercise ECG in evaluating stable chest pain.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine functions of the exercise ECG in the light of the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines recommending that it should not be used for the diagnosis or exclusion of stable angina.

Design

Qualitative ethnographic study based on interviews and observations of clinical practice.

Setting

3 rapid access chest pain clinics in England.

Participants

Observation of 89 consultations in chest pain clinics, 18 patient interviews and 12 clinician interviews.

Main outcome measure

Accounts and observations of consultations in chest pain clinics.

Results

The exercise ECG was observed to have functions that extended beyond diagnosis. It was used to clarify a patient's story and revise the initial account. The act

SUBMITTER: Cramer H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3277903 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature