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. 2017 May;69(5):633-641.
doi: 10.1002/acr.22979. Epub 2017 Apr 10.

Symptom Recognition and Perceived Urgency of Help-Seeking for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Diseases in the General Public: A Mixed Method Approach

Gwenda Simons  1 , John Belcher  2 , Chris Morton  2 , Kanta Kumar  3 , Marie Falahee  1 , Christian D Mallen  2 , Rebecca J Stack  4 , Karim Raza  5
Affiliations

Symptom Recognition and Perceived Urgency of Help-Seeking for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Diseases in the General Public: A Mixed Method Approach

Gwenda Simons et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017 May.

Abstract

Objective: Clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are improved if the disease is treated early. However, treatment is often significantly delayed as a result of delayed help-seeking by patients who fail to recognize its symptoms or the need for rapid medical attention. Two studies were conducted to investigate the role of symptom recognition in help-seeking for the symptoms of RA, and compared this to symptom recognition and help-seeking in angina and bowel cancer.

Methods: A qualitative interview study with 31 individuals and a survey of 1,088 members of the general public (all without RA) were conducted. Both studies used vignettes describing the symptoms of RA, bowel cancer, and angina. Participants made causal attributions and rated the perceived seriousness of the symptoms and the urgency with which they would seek medical help if confronted with these symptoms.

Results: Only a small proportion of participants in both studies recognized the symptoms of RA, whereas the symptoms of bowel cancer and angina were readily recognized by many participants and considered to be more serious and to require more rapid medical attention (Z = 14.7-34.2, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Accurate symptom attribution and the perception that symptoms are indicative of a serious underlying condition are both important drivers for rapid help-seeking. In the case of angina and bowel cancer, recent campaigns have promoted not only recognition of symptoms and their seriousness, but also emphasized the consequences of not seeking timely help. Our results suggest that these consequences should also be addressed in any public health campaign for RA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Distribution of ratings of seriousness of the symptoms of RA joint pain and joint stiffness in hands and wrists
(a), RA joint pain, stiffness and swelling in hands and wrists (b), RA joint pain, stiffness and swelling in the feet and ankles (c), bowel cancer and angina by survey respondents
Figure 2
Figure 2. Distribution of ratings of the urgency with which medical attention would be sought for the symptoms of RA joint pain and joint stiffness in hands and wrists
(a), RA joint pain, stiffness and swelling in hands and wrists (b), RA joint pain, stiffness and swelling in the feet and ankles (c), Bowel Cancer and Angina by survey respondents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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