Table 3.

Causes of prehospital and hospital delay.

Causes of delay	Frequency number (%)
Prehospital delay
*Patient-related reasons
1. Symptoms related:
–Symptoms come and go, spontaneously; thought will disappear	94 (29.8)
–Attributed symptoms to non-cardiac origin	50 (15.9)
–Symptoms were not severe	58 (18.4)
2. Social and system related:
–Didn’t find an escort	47 (14.9)
–Social reasons	7 (2.2)
–Don’t like going to physicians	18 (5.7)
–Financial reasons	3 (1)
–Nearest medical facility is far	7 (2.2)
*Transportation-related reasons
Traffic and transportation	283 (89.8)
Waiting your turn in the medical facility	32 (10.2)
Hospital Delay
•Staff related
–Assisting staff delay (technician/nurses)	21 (6.7)
–Physician inertia	11 (3.5)
•System related
–Bureaucratic	77 (24.4)
–Financial (reimbursement) reasons	42 (13.3)
–Laboratory	40 (12.7)
–Shortage of beds	119 (37.8)
–Lack of equipment	1 (0.3)
–Patients/Family reluctance	4 (1.3)