{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nEndometriosis is often diagnosed years after symptom onset, while communication-related factors remain poorly defined in Central and Eastern Europe.Methods\n\nIn this cross-sectional study, 150 Romanian women reporting surgically confirmed endometriosis completed an online questionnaire on diagnostic history and patient-physician communication, assessed with a seven-item Likert scale (Cronbach's α = 0.836).Results\n\nMean diagnostic delay was 9.1 years (median 8; IQR 4-13), with 5.2 physicians and 10.2 consultations before diagnosis. Delay was unrelated to symptom severity (r = 0.07, p = 0.43) but inversely related to age at symptom onset (r = -0.68). Adolescent-onset symptoms were followed by a 14.9-year delay versus 5.8 years for adult-onset symptoms. In multivariable analysis (adjusted R² = 0.49), earlier onset and more consultations remained independently associated with delay. Communication had an indirect association through consultation number (effect -0.68; 95% bootstrap CI -1.26 to -0.22), accounting for 38% of the total association; direction cannot be inferred from cross-sectional data. Symptom minimization (76%) was linked to more physicians and longer delays (10.0 vs. 6.0 years; d = 0.60).Conclusions\n\nEarlier onset and repeated healthcare encounters were related to delay than symptom severity. The self-selected, urban, highly educated sample limits generalizability and causal interpretation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania.",
    "Cuza Voda Clinical Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology, 700038 Iasi, Romania.",
    "Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences I-Histology, \"Grigore T. Popa\" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Street 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania.",
    "Department of Biochemistry, \"Grigore T. Popa\" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania.",
    "Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity, \"Grigore T. Popa\" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania.",
    "Department of Dermatology, \"Grigore T. Popa\" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Cristina-Elena Mandici"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Daniela Roxana Matasariu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2862-2069"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Irina Draga Căruntu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Bogdan Doroftei",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6618-141X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Daniela-Cristina Dimitriu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8816-4426"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Liliana-Claudia Strat"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Lucian Vasile Boiculese",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5825-6189"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Ursache",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8207-7655"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Iuliana-Elena Bujor",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-8436-2337"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ioana-Adriana Popescu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mihaela Grigore"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/anemsmgvcpfga.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/healthcare14193237",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13665199",
  "id": "anemsmgvcpfga",
  "issns": [
    "2227-9032"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881682",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2743|Endometriosis Research and Treatment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7215056068",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13665199?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13665199",
  "pmid": "42881682",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/anemsmgvcpfga.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:00Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42881682",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881682"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2743|Endometriosis Research and Treatment",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Physician Communication, Repeated Healthcare Encounters, and Diagnostic Delay in Endometriosis: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis.",
  "title_text": "Physician Communication, Repeated Healthcare Encounters, and Diagnostic Delay in Endometriosis: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:00Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/anemsmgvcpfga",
  "venue": "Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}