TY - JOUR
T1 - Self- treatment patterns among clients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and the effect of self-treatment on STD symptom duration
AU - Irwin, Debra E.
AU - Thomas, James C.
AU - Spitters, Christopher E.
AU - Leone, Peter A.
AU - Stratton, Janice D.
AU - Martin, David H.
AU - Zenilman, Jonathan M.
AU - Schwebke, Jane R.
AU - Hook, Edward W.
AU - Andrews, Elizabeth B.
AU - Davis, L. Gray
AU - Tilson, Hugh H.
AU - Mowat, Mary Ann
AU - White, Alice
AU - Stender, Monika
AU - Johnston, Jeff
AU - Miles, Michael
AU - Williams, Vanessa
AU - Davis, Bob
AU - Phillips, Linda
AU - Girzaitis, Nancy
AU - Connors, Dee
AU - Souza, Kellie
AU - Garrett, Gerald
AU - Caporuscio, Debbie
AU - Clover, Donna
AU - Parker, Edith
AU - Munoz, Gil
AU - Gunn, Robert
AU - Stratton, Sara
AU - Hollis, Debbie
AU - Monnett, Martha
AU - Foster, Kristi
AU - Armentor, Barbara
AU - Pare, Barbara
AU - Jackson, Sherell
AU - Nobel, Jay
AU - Ehehosi, Masai
AU - Cyrier, Rosalie
AU - Hunter, Brenda
PY - 1997/7
Y1 - 1997/7
N2 - Objective: To assess patterns of self-treatment and its effects on the duration of sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms before medical care. Methods: A cross-sectional interview survey in public STD clinics (7 U.S. cities). Patients, seeking treatment for STD symptoms or having a known infected sexual contact, reported self-treatment behaviors and symptom duration. Additional data were abstracted from medical charts. Results: Self- treatment, primarily over-the-counter topical medications 154.8%), was reported by 21.8% of 2,508 symptomatic patients. Self-treaters were significantly more likely to be African-American (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8), female (OR = 1.7), over age 30 (OR = 1.3), report >1 symptom (OR = 1.4), and report a genital lesion (OR = 2.1). Symptom duration was 2 days longer among self-treaters (p < 0.01). African-Americans (OR = 1.5), men (OR = 1.2), and self-treaters of symptoms other than genital lesions (OR = 1.4) had a significantly longer time from symptom onset to receiving medical care. Conclusions: Self-treatment is common among patients with STDs. Self- treatment of a genital lesion, unlike certain demographic factors and self- treatment of other STD symptoms, did not prolong the time to medical treatment.
AB - Objective: To assess patterns of self-treatment and its effects on the duration of sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms before medical care. Methods: A cross-sectional interview survey in public STD clinics (7 U.S. cities). Patients, seeking treatment for STD symptoms or having a known infected sexual contact, reported self-treatment behaviors and symptom duration. Additional data were abstracted from medical charts. Results: Self- treatment, primarily over-the-counter topical medications 154.8%), was reported by 21.8% of 2,508 symptomatic patients. Self-treaters were significantly more likely to be African-American (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8), female (OR = 1.7), over age 30 (OR = 1.3), report >1 symptom (OR = 1.4), and report a genital lesion (OR = 2.1). Symptom duration was 2 days longer among self-treaters (p < 0.01). African-Americans (OR = 1.5), men (OR = 1.2), and self-treaters of symptoms other than genital lesions (OR = 1.4) had a significantly longer time from symptom onset to receiving medical care. Conclusions: Self-treatment is common among patients with STDs. Self- treatment of a genital lesion, unlike certain demographic factors and self- treatment of other STD symptoms, did not prolong the time to medical treatment.
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U2 - 10.1097/00007435-199707000-00011
DO - 10.1097/00007435-199707000-00011
M3 - Article
C2 - 9243746
AN - SCOPUS:17144438490
SN - 0148-5717
VL - 24
SP - 372
EP - 377
JO - Sexually transmitted diseases
JF - Sexually transmitted diseases
IS - 6
ER -