Doctor shopping.

According to a review by Campbell and Roland,1 a patient’s decision to consult a doctor is dependent on a multitude of physical, psychological and social reasons, with or without prior self-care. The patient’s journey of seeking medical care is influenced by socio-economic and demographic status, perception of susceptibility and severity, benefits/costs of seeking the interaction, as well as the progress and response to self-care of the illness. Additional influences pertain to the availability and accessibility of social support networks, the patient’s knowledge and experience of the illness, and actual or perceived barriers to accessing the medical system.