UNDERSTANDING HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Shazia Bana Institute of Business Management, Karachi
  • Javed Yakoob Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi
  • Nourin Jivany Institute of Business Management, Karachi
  • Asima Faisal Institute of Business Management, Karachi
  • Humeira Jawed Institute of Business Management, Karachi
  • Safia Awan Aga Khan University, Karachi

Abstract

Background: Health seeking behaviour refers to the behaviour of people towards seeking their own health through provided health services. The medical professionals are at a higher risk of avoiding health seeking behaviour because they believe they are aware of the diseases and their symptoms as well as the pharmaceutical management of the disease. The aim of this study was to understand the healthcare seeking behaviour of nurses and doctors as well as the factors affecting it in hospitals of a major city in a developing country. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed and a self-report questionnaire was distributed to healthcare workers at four tertiary care hospitals from July, 2012 to December, 2014. A total of 1015 participants responded. There were 234 (23%) doctors, 664 (65%) nurses, 60 (6%) pharmacist and 57 (6%) paramedical staff. Results: The doctors 194 (83%) had a greater access to medical facilities compared to nurses 278 (42%) (p<0.001). Doctors 176 (75%) compared to nurses 262 (39%) were utilizing healthcare service more often (p<0.001). Majority of the nurses 494 (74%) never visited a doctor for any complaint over a period of one year compared to doctors 132 (56%) (p=0.002). Doctors 234 (100%) and nurses 662 (99.7%) equally self -medicated themselves (p=0.401). Nurses 134 (20%) were less aware of the organization policies offered for employees ill-health compared to doctors 102 (44%) (p<0.001). Nurses 530 (80%) were also less aware of the significance of regular health check-ups compared to doctor 234(100%) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Among the healthcare workers, doctors have greater access to healthcare facilities. Majority of nurses do not seek healthcare when they get sick. Self-medication is common in both groups.Keywords: Healthcare professionals, health seeking behaviour, self-medication, over the counter medications

Author Biographies

Shazia Bana, Institute of Business Management, Karachi

Department of Health and Hospital Management, Coordinator

Javed Yakoob, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi

Medicine/Assistant professor

Nourin Jivany, Institute of Business Management, Karachi

Department of Health and Hospital Management,

Asima Faisal, Institute of Business Management, Karachi

Department of Health and Hospital Management,/HOD

Humeira Jawed, Institute of Business Management, Karachi

Department of Health and Hospital Management,

Safia Awan, Aga Khan University, Karachi

Department of Medicine,/Senior Instructor

References

Government of Pakistan. Ministry of Finance Budget. Pakistan: Finance Division; 2004. [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jun 21]. Available from: http://www.finance.gov.pk/publications/Year Book 2005-06

World Bank World Development Report. Knowledge for Development. 1999. Washington DC. [Internet]. [cited 2015 May 16]. Available from: http://web.worldbank.org/

Poullier JP, Hernandez P, Kawabata K, Savedoff WD. Patterns of global health expenditures. Health Systems Performance Assessment: Debates, Methods and Empiricism. 2003. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jun 26]. Available from: http://www.nursingcenter.com

Akram M, Khan FJ. Health care services and government spending in Pakistan. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Pride working Paper. 2007. [Internet]. [cited 2015 May 19]. Available from: http://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/Working Paper-32/pdf

Dabney DA. Onset of Illegal Use of Mind-Altering or Potentially Addictive Prescription Drugs among Pharmacist. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash) 2001;4(3):392–400.

Ali AN, Kai JTK, Keat CC, Dhanaraj SA. Self-medication practices among health care professionals in a Private University, Malaysia. Int Curr Pharm J 2012;1(10):302–10.

Tomson G. Surky G. Self- Prescribing by way of pharmacies in three Asian developing countries. Lancet 1986;2(8507):620–2.

Sifferlin A. Least Healthy Employees? Hospital Workers. Time magazine, health and family: 2012. [Internet]. [cited 2015 May 20]. Available from: http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/16/least-healthy-employees-hospital-workers

Kumar A, Khuwaja AK, Khuwaja AM. Knowledge practice gaps about needle stick injuries among healthcare workers at tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2012;24(3-4):50–2.

Kumar R, Samrongthong R, Shaikh BT. Knowledge, attitude and practices of health staff regarding infectious waste handling of tertiary care health facilities at metropolitan city of Pakistan. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2013;25(1-2):109–12.

Published

2016-09-16