Color Priming and Patient Decision-Making in the Emergency Department: Priming "Threat" in Patients With Low-Risk Chest Pain

Color Priming and Patient Decision-Making in the Emergency Department: Priming "Threat" in Patients With Low-Risk Chest Pain

Color Priming and Patient Decision-Making in the Emergency Department: Priming "Threat" in Patients With Low-Risk Chest Pain

This will be a prospective cross-sectional study evaluating a convenience sample of patients in the ED with low-risk chest pain defined by a HEART score of 3 or less.

This will be a prospective cross-sectional study. We will evaluate a convenience sample of patients in the ED with low-risk chest pain defined by a HEART score of 3 or less. Patients will be consented for participation and will fill out one of two surveys concerning their chest pain and chances of adverse cardiac events based on their HEART score. One survey will be printed in red text and feature red graphics; the other will be printed in black-and-white and feature black and-white graphics. The surveys will otherwise be identical. Enrolled patients will be asked to fill out survey questions related to their perception of their safety and their comfort with their discharge.

The survey concerns the patients' chest pain, perception of their safety, and their comfort with their discharge. This group's survey will be printed in black and white and feature black and white graphics.

The survey concerns the patients' chest pain, perception of their safety, and their comfort with their discharge. This group's survey will be printed in red text and feature red graphics.

To assess a patient's level of relief/worry with being discharged from the emergency department (ED) after presenting with a chief complaint of chest pain and subsequently being informed they have a less than 2% chance of a major adverse cardiac event (heart attack) in the next six weeks. The questionnaire grades their level of relief/worry from (1) Very Relieved, (2) Somewhat Relieved (3) No Change (4) Somewhat Worried (5) Very Worried.

Inclusion Criteria: All patients 18 years or age and older presenting to the ED with a complaint of chest pain who are found to have a HEART score of 3 or less. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who refuse to provide consent. Patients unable to fill out the survey due to clinical instability, severe pain, or disorientation as determined by an emergency physician. Incarcerated patients. Patients who have a HEART score of >3. Pregnant women.

The population studied will be a convenience sample of adult patients presenting to the ED with chest pain as a primary complaint who then are risk-stratified with the HEART score and are found to have a score of 3 or less.

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