title: Women's accounts of help-seeking in early rheumatoid arthritis from symptom onset to diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As interest in gender and health grows, the notion that women are more likely than men to consult doctors is increasingly undermined as more complex understandings of help seeking and gender emerge. While men's reluctance to seek help is associated with practices of masculinities, there has been less consideration of women's help-seeking practices. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that predominantly affects women and requires prompt treatment but considerable patient-based delays persist along the care pathway. This paper examines women's accounts of help seeking in early RA from symptom onset to diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted in-depth interviews with 37 women with RA <12 months in Canada. Analysis was based on a constant comparison, thematic approach informed by narrative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women's accounts featured masculine practices associated with men's help-seeking. The women presented such behaviours as relational, e.g. rooted in family socialisation and a determination to maintain roles and 'normal' life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings raise questions about how far notions of gender operate to differentiate men and women's help seeking and may indicate more similarities than differences. Recognising this has implications for policy and practice initiatives for both men and women.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Richmond, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6X 2C7 Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6T 2B5 atownsen@exchange.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Richmond, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6X 2C7 Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6T 2B5.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.affiliation: Mary Pack Arthritis Program, Vancouver, Canada, BC V5Z 1L7.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Richmond, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6X 2C7 Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6T 1Z3.
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D057228:Masculinity; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D063545:Personal Narratives as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior
keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; delays; hegemonic masculinity; relational settings; women’s help-seeking