Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

Figure 1 Diagnostic time intervals. Based on the patients' questionnaires, three relevant time intervals were calculated: (1) patient waiting time [interval from the first inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms till consulting a physician]; (2) physician diagnostic time (interval from first physician contact to IBD diagnosis); and (3) total diagnostic time (interval from the first IBD symptoms till establishment of IBD diagnosis).