Finally, we believe that one point

Finally, we believe that one point of great interest is the interpretation
of the findings of our study in accordance with the
operation of the nursing profession and the healthcare policy in
Greece.
The long distance from the hospital in conjunction with
the use of an ambulance by the minority of the patients reflects
the necessity for health policy decisions and actions that would
improve the patient accessibility to healthcare services. The
absence of a well-organized, structured, adequately staffed and
effective primary healthcare system in Greece (Adamakidou &
Kalokerinou-Anagnostopoulou 2008) requires patients to seek
healthcare services in secondary and/or tertiary hospitals, which
are located in urban centres and away from the rural and island
areas of Greece. In addition, the correlation between the delayed
hospital arrival, the medical history of diabetes and the absence
of non-typical symptomatology indicate a significant knowledge
deficit among the Greek AMI patients, which lead to an inadequate
self-care behaviour.
The adequate nurse staffing of the
healthcare services in our country could contribute to more
effective patient education regarding the cardiovascular risk and
early recognition of the dangerous symptoms.