TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of illness perceptions
T2 - psychological distress and treatment seeking delay in patients with genital warts.
AU - Ireland, Juliet A.
AU - Reid, Murray
AU - Powell, Rachael
AU - Petrie, Keith J.
PY - 2005/10/1
Y1 - 2005/10/1
N2 - This study examined the relationships between illness perceptions, psychological distress and treatment-seeking delay in genital warts patients. Sixty-six genital warts patients were approached while attending a sexual health clinic. They completed a questionnaire assessing their illness perceptions, psychological distress and treatment-seeking delay. Negative perceptions of illness consequences and control and a perceived cyclical timeline were associated with increased psychological distress. Perceived illness consequences maintained significance in a multiple regression equation, which accounted for 25% variance in distress. Depression was associated with treatment-seeking delay (r = 0.28, P = 0.03). In conclusion, illness perceptions may play an important role in the experience of psychological distress in genital warts patients. The implications of these findings for the design of health-care interventions are discussed.
AB - This study examined the relationships between illness perceptions, psychological distress and treatment-seeking delay in genital warts patients. Sixty-six genital warts patients were approached while attending a sexual health clinic. They completed a questionnaire assessing their illness perceptions, psychological distress and treatment-seeking delay. Negative perceptions of illness consequences and control and a perceived cyclical timeline were associated with increased psychological distress. Perceived illness consequences maintained significance in a multiple regression equation, which accounted for 25% variance in distress. Depression was associated with treatment-seeking delay (r = 0.28, P = 0.03). In conclusion, illness perceptions may play an important role in the experience of psychological distress in genital warts patients. The implications of these findings for the design of health-care interventions are discussed.
KW - illness perception
KW - distress
KW - treatment-seeking delay
KW - genital warts
KW - HPV
UR - http://std.sagepub.com/content/16/10/667.abstract
U2 - 10.1258/095646205774357334
DO - 10.1258/095646205774357334
M3 - Article
SN - 1758-1052
VL - 16
SP - 667
EP - 670
JO - International Journal of Std and Aids
JF - International Journal of Std and Aids
IS - 10
ER -