Health-seeking behavior and diagnostic delay of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients of Bangladesh: a hospital-based cross-sectional study
Author: Ahmmad et al. Summary: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often ignore the initial symptoms of the disease and delay in seeking medical care, which ultimately prolongs the diagnostic delay. The objective of the present study was to explore the health-seeking behavior and the factors associated with diagnostic delay in SLE patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 85 patients suffering from SLE who attended the Lupus Clinic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from January 2012 to June 2013. Sociodemographic and disease-related data were collected by face-to-face interviews. Diagnostic delay was defined as the period of time