Behavior of patients with flu-like symptoms: consultation with physician versus self-treatment.
BACKGROUND
The reasons that patients consult the clinic physician for common minor symptoms are not clearly defined. For seasonal epidemic events such as flu-like symptoms this characterization is relevant.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors that prompt patients to seek medical attention, and correlate patient behavior with different demographic and disease variables.


METHODS
A random sample of 2,000 enrolled people aged 18-65 years and registered with eight primary care clinics located throughout Israel were asked to report whether they had had flu-like symptoms within the previous 3 months. Those who responded affirmatively (n = 346) were requested to complete an ad hoc questionnaire evaluating their treatment-seeking behavior.


RESULTS
A total of 318 patients completed the questionnaire (92% response rate), of whom 271 (85%) consulted a physician and 47 (15%) did not. Those who sought medical assistance had more serious symptoms as perceived by them (cough, headache and arthralgia) (P < 0.05), and their main reason for visiting the doctor was "to rule out serious disease." Self-employed patients were more likely than salaried workers to visit the clinic to rule out serious disease (rather than to obtain a prescription or sick note or to reassure family). They also delayed longer before seeking treatment (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study the majority of individuals with flu symptoms tended to consult a physician, though there were significant variations in the reasons for doing so, based on a combination of sociodemographic variables. We believe these findings will help primary care physicians to characterize their practices and to program the expected demand of flu-like symptoms.
Kahan
E
E
Department of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tiqva, Israel. ekahan@post.tau.ac.il
Giveon
S M
SM
Zalevsky
S
S
Imber-Shachar
Z
Z
Kitai
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors