Health seeking behavior and related factors among hypertensive and diabetic patients contracting medical service in Fangzhuang community health service center

Abstract

Objective To investigate the health-seeking behavior and related factors among hypertensive and diabetic patients contracting medical service in Beijing Fangzhuang Community Health Service Center. Methods By using stratified random sampling method, 830 contracted hypertensive and diabetic patients were selected in the study. A face to face questionnaire survey was conducted in Fangzhuang Community Health Service Center from November 2016 to January 2017. Total 800 questionnaires were completed, and the medical behavior and influencing factors of patients were analyzed. Results The first-contact rate of community for hypertensive and diabetic patients was 73.0%(584/800). The reasons for choosing community service were: near home (86.3%, 690/800), shorter waiting time (71.4%, 571/800) and trust in doctors (50.3%, 402/800); while the reasons for not choosing community service were less drug varieties (76.1%, 609/800), poor facilities (32.1%, 257/800) and lower technical level (11.4%, 91/800). Its influencing factors were: frequent need of accompanying for visit (χ2=5.719, P=0.012), family income (χ2=4.540, P=0.021), awareness of service scopes(χ2=64.668, P=0.000), purpose of service(χ2=19.234, P=0.000), frequency of doctor contact(χ2=9.367, P=0.001), the awareness of referral(χ2=5.736, P=0.011). Conclusion The community health service centers should take the advantage of easy access, short waiting time and patients′ trust, at the same time should improve the service conditions and quality, so as to increase the first-contact rate for patients contracting medical service. Key words: Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus; Community health centers; Contract services