Social cognitive theory to improve symptom appraisal and help‐seeking among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A qualitative study

Abstract Aim Social cognitive theory (SCT) has been successfully employed to improve symptom appraisal and help‐seeking among patients with various conditions but is yet to be applied in the context of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). This study aimed to explore the applicability of SCT in and possible approaches to improving symptom appraisal and help‐seeking of patients with ARDs, one of the key barriers to earlier diagnosis. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 33 ARD patients with a prolonged pre‐diagnosis interval (>3 months). We coded the transcripts deductively using SCT as the overarching framework and inductively for approaches identified from the interviews. Results All six main concepts of SCT (behavioral capacity, expectations, self‐efficacy, observational learning, reinforcements, and reciprocal determinism) were observed in the three stages of symptom appraisal and help‐seeking (detection, interpretation, and response) of patients with ARDs. While many participants reported that they were able and confident to detect their symptoms, they lacked the behavioral capacity and self‐efficacy to interpret symptoms correctly, which resulted in delayed help‐seeking and diagnosis. Possible approaches to address this suggested by participants (such as education of the general population) could improve behavioral capacity and self‐efficacy in symptom interpretation and enhance expectations, observational learning, reinforcements, and reciprocal determinism in symptom response. Conclusion Lack of behavioral capacity and self‐efficacy was observed in symptom interpretation of patients with ARDs, which resulted in delayed help‐seeking. Approaches could target the behavioral capacity and self‐efficacy for symptom interpretation to facilitate early help‐seeking and, in turn, earlier diagnosis among individuals with possible ARDs.