The impact of the intensity of fear on patient's delay regarding health care seeking behavior: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review focuses on the role of the intensity of fear in patient's delay in cancer and in myocardial infarction.


METHODS
In a search of literature published between 1990 and June 2009, 161 articles were found. After the use of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles in cancer and 4 articles in myocardial infarction remained.


RESULTS
High levels of fear are associated with earlier help-seeking in both diseases; for low levels of fear, the picture is unclear.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of fear is an important factor, which should be taken into account when facilitating help-seeking by patients.
Dubayova
Tatiana
T
Department of Special Education, University of Presov, Presov, Slovakia. dubayovat@unipo.sk
van Dijk
Jitse P
JP
Nagyova
Iveta
I
Rosenberger
Jaroslav
J
Havlikova
Eva
E
Gdovinova
Zuzana
Z
Middel
Berrie
B
Groothoff
Johan W
JW
D001007:Anxiety; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*
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