Self-treatment patterns among clients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and the effects of self-treatment on STD symptom duration. The Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
To assess patterns of self-treatment and its effects on the duration of sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms before medical care.


METHODS
A cross-sectional interview survey in public STD clinics (7 U.S. cities). Patients, seeking treatment for STD symptoms or having a known infected sexual contact, reported self-treatment behaviors and symptom duration. Additional data were abstracted from medical charts.


RESULTS
Self-treatment, primarily over-the-counter topical medications (54.8%), was reported by 21.8% of 2,508 symptomatic patients. Self-treaters were significantly more likely to be African-American (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8), female (OR = 1.7), over age 30 (OR = 1.3), report > 1 symptom (OR = 1.4), and report a genital lesion (OR = 2.1). Symptom duration was 2 days longer among self-treaters (p < 0.01). African-Americans (OR = 1.5), men (OR = 1.2), and self-treaters of symptoms other than genital lesions (OR = 1.4) had a significantly longer time from symptom onset to receiving medical care.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-treatment is common among patients with STDs. Self-treatment of a genital lesion, unlike certain demographic factors and self-treatment of other STD symptoms, did not prolong the time to medical treatment.
Irwin
D E
DE
Department of Epidemiology, Burroughs Wellcome Company, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Thomas
J C
JC
Spitters
C E
CE
Leone
P A
PA
Stratton
J D
JD
Martin
D H
DH
Zenilman
J M
JM
Schwebke
J R
JR
Hook
E W
EW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012651:Self Medication; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors