Sex and gender differences in primary care help-seeking for common somatic symptoms: a longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Women are reported to consult general practitioners (GPs) more frequently than men. However, previous studies on sex differences in help-seeking behavior for somatic symptoms do not distinguish between sex and gender, do not account for sex differences in presented symptoms, and are frequently conducted in clinical settings, automatically excluding non-help seekers. Therefore, we aim to assess the independent associations of sex and gender with primary care help-seeking for somatic symptoms in the general population.

Design and setting

Records from the longitudinal population-based Lifelines Cohort Study were linked to routine electronic health records from GPs.

Subjects

Participants reporting new-onset common somatic symptoms.

Main outcome measures

A

SUBMITTER: Ballering AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10193899 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature