Psychological factors related to delay in consultation for cancer symptoms
Psychological factors related to delay in consultation for cancer symptoms
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DOI：
10.1002/pon.850
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发表时间：
2005-05-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Trinkaus, KM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ristvedt, SL;Trinkaus, KM
这项研究调查了与延迟寻求直肠癌症状帮助相关的心理特征。六十九名受试者重建了从症状出现到医疗咨询结束的关键事件。并完成了气质与性格量表（TCI）和状态特质焦虑量表（STAI）。平均延迟时间约为 6 个月，大约六分之一的受试者等待一年或更长时间。受试者估计了就诊总时间的两个连续部分的长度：（1）症状评估时间（从症状出现到认识到可能的严重性），以及（2）行动评估时间（从认识到严重性到就医）。症状评估时间占总时间的三分之二以上，并且与 TCI 伤害避免量表 (TCI-HA) 的低分相关，表明对威胁的性格不敏感，并且与受教育程度较低和年龄较小略有相关。行动评估时间与任何人口或心理变量无关。低 TCI-HA 评分还与之前进行癌症筛查的可能性较低以及对病前健康状况的更好判断相关。低 STAI 特征得分与更好地判断病前健康状况和更少就诊有关。结果讨论了了解与健康行为相关的性格特征的重要性。版权所有 (c) 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
This research investigated psychological characteristics associated with delay in seeking help for symptoms of rectal cancer. Sixty nine subjects reconstructed pivotal events beginning with symptom onset and ending with medical consultation. and completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The mean delay time was around 6 months, with about 1 out of 6 subjects waiting one year or more. Subjects estimated the lengths of two sequential segments of total time to consultation: (1) Symptom Appraisal time (from symptom onset to recognition of possible seriousness), and (2) Action Appraisal time (from recognition of seriousness to medical consultation). Symptom Appraisal time accounted for over two-thirds of total time and was associated with low scores on the TCI Harm Avoidance scale (TCI-HA), indicating dispositional insensitivity to threat, and marginally associated with less education and younger age. Action Appraisal time was not associated with any demographic or psychological variables. Low TCI-HA scores were also associated with lower likelihood of previous cancer screening, and with better judgments of premorbid health. Low STAI Trait scores were associated with better judgments of premorbid health and fewer doctor visits. Results are discussed regarding the importance of understanding dispositional characteristics related to health behavior. Copyright (c) 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.