Factors influencing delay in treatment seeking by first-time attenders at a genitourinary clinic

We examined treatment-seeking behaviours amongst a consecutive sample of 18 8 first-time attenders at a busy genitourinary (GU) clinic in a general hos pital. Participants were interviewed and completed a battery of questionnai res prior to receiving diagnosis or treatment. Delay in treatment seeking w as measured in 3 ways: utilization delay, illness behaviour delay and appra isal delay. Appraisal delay and illness behaviour were significantly relate d, but were unrelated to utilization delay. Substantial delays were reporte d before seeking treatment, with a median of 30 days elapsing between first noticing symptoms and attending the clinic. Analysis of age groups indicat ed that the oldest groups - 45 and above were likely to delay longest, on a ll 3 measures of delay.