THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN ON THE HEALTH CARE-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF MEN

BACKGROUND. Gender and social relationships are believed to have a str ong influence on health care attitudes and behavior. This study was de signed to determine the effect of the gender of closely associated per sons on the health care-seeking behavior of persons of the opposite se x. METHODS. We developed a 14-item questionnaire that requested inform ation on social and demographic characteristics, health status, and in fluences on the decision to seek health care, and administered it to 3 14 consecutive patients seen at two family medicine clinics in San Die go, California. Data were analysed by means of one-way analysis of var iance for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Additionally, data were analysed by means of a multivarian t logistic regression model that calculated odds ratios and 95% confid ence intervals. RESULTS. Men were 2.7 limes more likely than women to be influenced to seek health care by a member of the opposite sex (95% Cl, 1.6 to 4.6), Married patients were 2.4 limes more likely than unm arried patients to be influenced to seek health care by a member of th e opposite sex (95% Cl, 1.4 to 4.3). CONCLUSIONS. Women exert an impor tant influence on the decisions of men to seek health care.