Hierarchy of the main factors predicting the decision to go to the doctor in a general population sample: A factorial survey design

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.