<P> Before people seek medical help they try to interpret the symptoms themselves and often consult people in their lives or use' self - help' measures . A study of' everyday illness' in Finland including: influenza, infections and musculo - skeletal problems focused on reasons for consulting medical experts and explanations of illness . These common illness were examined not because of their seriousness but because of their frequency . The researchers explain five possible triggers that people seek medical aid: 1 - the occurrence of an interpersonal crisis 2 - perceived interference with social and personal relations 3 - perceived interference with vocational & physical activity 4 - sanctioning by other people 5 - sufferers ideas about how long certain complaints should last . These kind of explanatory models are part of the process that people use to construct medical culture . They give meaning to illness and health, answer questions about personal responsibility about health and most importantly are part of the dialogue between patients' and professionals' illness explanations . It can help explore why some patients will follow a doctors instructions to the letter and others ignore them completely . A patient's explanation or understanding of their illness can be much broader than a physician's and this dynamic has become a major criticism of modern medical practice since it normally excludes the "social, psychological and experiential dimensions of illness ." </P> <P> The Finnish study examined 127 patients and the results have been different from findings in other countries where there is more' lay consultation' . Half of the respondents did not have any lay consultation before coming to the doctors office . One - third did not try any self - treatment and three - quarters of the sample consulted the doctor within three days of symptoms developing . Possible explanations are that in Finland there is an aspect "over-protectiveness" within their health care system . Many might conclude that the Finnish people are dependent and helpless but the researchers of this study found that people chose to consult professionals because they trusted them over some lay explanation . These results echo similar studies in Ireland that explain this phenomenon as being based in a strong work ethic . Illness in these countries will affect their work and Finnish people will quickly get treatment so they can return to work . This research out of Finland also describes that this relationship between patient and doctor is based on: </P> <Ol> <Li> national and municipal administrative bureaucracies that demand more output and more satisfied patients </Li> <Li> the public demanding better care </Li> <Li> nurses criticizing physicians for not taking a holistic view of patients </Li> <Li> hospital specialists wanting better / earlier screening for serious illnesses (e.g. cancer). </Li> </Ol> <Li> national and municipal administrative bureaucracies that demand more output and more satisfied patients </Li>

One of the health care issues in rural china is that hospitalization for an illness typically