Symptom Experience and Health Action

It was suggested that knowledge gained from prior personal symptom experience reduces anxiety and uncertainty and thus diminishes motivation for immediate medical attention.

Abstract

A total of 445 respondents in four different samples was asked to indicate with reference to each of 29 disease symptoms whether any family member had ever experienced it Respondents were also asked to rate on a four-point scale, regardless of previous family experience, what action he or she would take if these symptoms appeared. Based on these ratings, a mean health concern score was computed for each symptom. There was a high degree of agreement between respondents in the four samples regarding the relative importance of the 29 symptoms. In general, the respondents who reported prior family experience with the symptoms tended to express less inclination to seek prompt medical core. It was suggested that knowledge gained from prior personal symptom experience reduces anxiety and uncertainty and thus diminishes motivation for immediate medical attention.