West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 1513-7368 19 10 2018 10 01 Health-Seeking Behaviour and Delayed Presentation of Oral Cancer Patients in a Developing Country: A Qualitative Study based on the Self-Regulatory Model 2935 2941 69124 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.10.2935 EN Nurizyani Azhar Department of Community Oral Health and Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Jennifer Geraldine Doss Oral Cancer Research, Coordinating Centre (OCRCC), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 0000-0003-2511-7523 Journal Article 2018 05 18 Background: The aim of this study was to explore reasons for delayed health-seeking for late stage oral cancer<br />patients. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 oral cancer patients with TNM stage<br />III to IV disease, who were treated at six tertiary regional centres managing oral cancer throughout Malaysia. Interviews<br />were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo (version 10.0) qualitative software and analysed<br />using framework analysis. Results: Participants interpreted their early symptoms as a minor condition and did not<br />consider it as requiring immediate attention. Four types of coping strategies causing delayed help-seeking emerged:<br />1) self-remedy 2) self-medication 3) seeking traditional healers and 4) consulting general medical practitioners (GPs)<br />instead of dentists. Socio-economic factors, cultural beliefs and religious practices have some influence on diagnostic<br />delay. Conclusion: Low levels of public knowledge and awareness regarding early signs and symptoms of oral cancer<br />as well as GPs’ misdiagnosis of early lesions results in delayed diagnosis. https://journal.waocp.org/article_69124_f1650f64b36658b7bf984d74899cfd27.pdf