LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To obtain a hierarchy of the main factors that predict the decision to go to the doctor when symptoms are not yet linked to a specific disease. METHOD 64 representative vignettes, combinations of nine factors, were presented to 168 adults between 28-60 years of age. RESULTS Multilevel multiple regression models were used to rank the main factors predicting urgency to see a doctor in order of importance: the interference of symptoms in daily activities (B = -1.29; p < .001), fear (B = -0.96; p < .001), pain (B = -0.90; p < .001), access to medical care (B = -0.64; p < .001) and confidence in the doctor (B = -0.27; <.05). Moreover, gender (B = 0.56; p < .05) and educational level (B =-0.31; p < .05) explained part of the interindividual variation in the daily symptoms' interference. CONCLUSION When a specific disease has not yet been diagnosed, daily symptoms' interference is the factor that most strongly increases the urgency to visit a doctor, especially among men and among people with a higher level of education. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS To reduce delay, generic health prevention campaigns should place more emphasis on possible interference in daily activities than on the meaning of symptoms for health.