Health seeking behavior of patients with chronic heart failure in community

Abstract

Total 1 500 subjects aged over 60 years were selected from 10 community health service centers with cluster sampling method. A questionnaire survey and physical examination were performed in all subjects. Sixty five patients with chronic heart failure were detected. The questionnaire showed that 77.6% (38/49) patients were diagnosed in tertiary hospitals, and 12.2% (6/49) were diagnosed in community hospitals. When heart failure occurred, most patients (37.7%, 20/53) chose to take a taxi to the tertiary hospital directly, and less patients (17.0%, 9/53) contacted community doctors. When a heart attack happened, 68.8%(33/48) of the patients could reach the hospital within 30 min, and 55.3% (26/47) within 60 min. 45.7% (21/46) elderly patients were hospitalized for heart failure once a year; 31.1% (14/45) were in hospital for less than 10 d each time. 46.0% (23/50) heart failure patients had received health education and 40.0%(16/40) had taken drugs under supervision; the majority health educators were community doctors and majority supervisors were family members. The results suggest that the confirmed diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients still rely on tertiary hospitals, community health institutions play an important role in health education and management of heart failure patients outside hospitals. But the utilization of community health services is still not enough in community health service centers. Key words: Disease management; Heart failure