During the interval before diagnosis, were you able to carry on with your normal work and other activities? | ||
---|---|---|
   No | 45 | 86.5% |
   Yes | 7 | 13.5% |
How did you feel during the interval before diagnosis? | Â | Â |
   Worried, frightened | 25 | 48.1% |
   Depressed, desperate, overwhelmed by disease | 12 | 23.1% |
   Misunderstood, not taken seriously, angry | 9 | 17.3% |
   Normal, matter of fact | 6 | 11.5% |
How did your environment react? | Â | Â |
   Worried, startled | 15 | 28.9% |
   Helpful, empathic, supportive | 21 | 38.5% |
   Empathy at first, later less | 2 | 3.9% |
   Normal, no empathy, unbelief | 10 | 19.2% |
   Patient did not tell environment about disease | 4 | 7.7% |
Did your environment support you? | Â | Â |
   Never | 3 | 5.8% |
   Sometimes, little support | 5 | 9.6% |
   Gave much support | 24 | 46.2% |
   Support only from close family | 17 | 32.7% |
   Patient did not need support | 3 | 5.8% |
What was the extent of the received support? | Â | Â |
   No support | 6 | 11.5% |
   Little support, sometimes support | 13 | 25.0% |
   Much support | 33 | 63.5% |
Did others doubt that you were ill? | Â | Â |
   Never, always taken seriously | 23 | 44.2% |
   No doubt in close environment, rest doubted | 12 | 23.1% |
   Doubt, did not think complaints were important | 13 | 25.0% |
   Patient did not consider herself ill | 1 | 1.9% |
   Environment did not know about disease | 3 | 5.8% |
Did you yourself sometimes doubt that you were ill? | Â | Â |
   No | 43 | 82.7% |
   Sometimes | 9 | 17.3% |
Did others think your complaints were psychological, "all in the mind"? | Â | Â |
   No | 35 | 67.3% |
   Yes, disease was psychological | 15 | 28.8% |
   Affectation | 2 | 3.8% |
Did you yourself think that your complaints were psychological, "all in the mind"? | Â | Â |
   No | 41 | 78.8% |
   Sometimes | 11 | 21.2% |
Did you sometimes feel guilty about your illness? | Â | Â |
   No | 31 | 59.6% |
   Sometimes | 3 | 5.8% |
   Often | 18 | 34.6% |
Were you sometimes not taken seriously by health-care providers? | Â | Â |
   No, always taken seriously | 17 | 32.7% |
   Yes, by General Practitioner (GP) | 13 | 25.0% |
   Yes, by some doctors (GP or specialist) | 19 | 36.5% |
   Yes, by hospital staff | 3 | 5.8% |
How often were you not taken seriously by health-care providers? | Â | Â |
   Never | 17 | 32.7% |
   Sometimes | 27 | 51.9% |
   Often | 8 | 15.4% |