Factors associated with help-seeking for bladder cancer symptoms among Chinese patients: a qualitative study

Objective To investigate the factors associated with help-seeking behavior for cancer symptoms among Chinese patients with bladder cancer. Methods A qualitative descriptive research design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 19 patients were interviewed by the trained first author. Four key themes were identified: (1) Factors influencing initial symptom appraisal, with three subthemes: attribution of urinary symptoms to non-threatening causes, lack of awareness of hematuria as a cancer sign, illusion of self-healing caused by painless and intermittent symptoms; (2) Factors sustaining inaction, with three subthemes: masculine endurance, prioritizing social roles, age-related fatalism; (3) Factors converting inaction into action, with three subthemes: symptom persistence or worsening, social support, authoritative advice; (4) Factors that serve as sociocultural and contextual moderators, with four subthemes: financial constraints, festival taboos, the digital divide in healthcare, the warning effect of others' illness experiences. Conclusions Help-seeking behavior among Chinese bladder cancer patients is influenced by symptom cognitive gaps, cultural-psychological barriers, and contextual moderators. Targeted interventions could focus on enhancing risk awareness of hematuria, addressing the culture of endurance and fatalism, strengthening family and social support, and bridging the digital divide, with the aim of supporting timely help-seeking.