Illness Perception and Delayed Healthcare-Seeking in Urban Chinese Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Qualitative Study Using the Common-Sense Model

Introduction

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is prevalent among postmenopausal women in China, yet many delay care for months or years. Guided by the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM), this study explored illness perceptions and coping experiences among Chinese women with moderate-to-severe POP who delayed healthcare-seeking.