Treatment Seeking Behavior Of Patients Research Articles

The cross-regional settlement methods in hospitals and the treatment-seeking behavior of patients with malignant tumors in China: an evolutionary game model.

Cross-regional settlement management is a key indicator of national health insurance system maturity. Given the significant demand for cross-regional medical treatment among Chinese patients with malignant tumors and the territorially managed health insurance system, further research is necessary to explore the relationship between hospital settlement methods and treatment-seeking behaviors among these patients. This study introduces and validates an evolutionary game model that provides a theoretical foundation for direct settlement policies in cross-regional treatment. An evolutionary game model was constructed with patients and hospitals serving as strategic players within a dynamic system. This model integrates the patients' treatment utility, medical and nonmedical costs, and hospitals' financial and technological advancement benefits. The evolutionary stability analysis revealed seven-game outcomes between hospitals and patients with malignant tumors. The numerical simulations suggest an evolutionary convergence toward strategy (1, 0), indicating a trend where patients with malignant tumors opt for cross-regional treatment, yet hospitals choose not to implement a direct settlement policy. Parameter sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters set in this study affected player behavioral choices and game equilibria. A strong demand for cross-regional medical treatment among Chinese patients with malignant tumors, and some hospitals require more incentives to implement cross-regional settlements. The key factors influencing the willingness of some patients with malignant tumors to resettle include the costs of in-area medical care, costs of cross-regional treatment without direct settlement, and the utility of cross-regional treatment. Technological advancement benefits and input costs influence some hospitals' motivation to adopt cross-regional settlements. Policy adjustments that effectively implement direct settlement policies can facilitate equilibrium, enhance the initiatives of some local health insurance management departments, improve the accessibility and efficiency of medical services, and reduce nonmedical expenses for patients.

Medication Adherence in Schizophrenia: Role of Opinion Makers

Background: Nonadherence to treatment is a recognized problem and the most challenging aspect of treatment, particularly in first-episode schizophrenia (FES). We aimed to identify a set of individuals in the social milieu of patients as opinion makers who play significant role in influencing treatment-seeking behavior in patients with FES. Materials and Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition), first episode, were administered with a 20 items semi-structured questionnaire to identify the individuals and their role in treatment-seeking behavior of patients with FES. Results: A total of 72 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the sample was 29 years (standard deviation [SD] ±7.35), and the mean duration of illness was 9.2 (SD ± 0.58) months. Our study shows that apart from treating psychiatrists, patient's family members and relatives play a crucial role in influencing treatment-seeking behavior such as treatment commencement, drug dose, formulation, place of treatment, etc., A large number of patients went to faith healers on the advice of family members (34.7%) and also followed the advice of family members regarding the duration of treatment (63.3%) as well as discontinuing treatment (63.3%). Conclusion: The index study concludes the role of family members/relatives as opinion makers in the social milieu of patients with FES in influencing treatment-related decisions and affecting adherence to treatment.

Treatment-Seeking Behavior of Patients With COVID-19 and Its Related Factors in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Treatment-Seeking Behavior of Patients With COVID-19 and Its Related Factors in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Assessment of effect of osteoarthritis of knee on the activities of daily living and treatment seeking behaviour of patients at Kalaburagi, Gulbarga city of Karnataka

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of disability in most of the countries. It is the most frequent joint disease with a prevalence of 22% to 39% in India. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of OA of knee on activities of daily living using Western Ontario and McMasters University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and treatment seeking behaviour of patient with OA of knee.Methods: Convenience sampling was used to find out patients of OA from 15th April to 1st June 2016 with cross-section type of study design. Data was collected and analyzed using MS Excel 2000.Results: In this study 16% of participants in underweight category and 79% participants in overweight category reported moderate to very severe pain on visual analogue score (VAS). Treatment seeking behaviour was quite poor in lower socio-economic class (SEC) as compared to upper SEC. 20.34% participants had extreme pain while walking. 9.74% participants experienced extreme level of morning stiffness while 18.72% had extreme difficulty while ascending stairs. 14.87% experienced extreme difficulty during getting standing position from sitting position.Conclusions: Moderate to severe pain on VAS was more common in overweight group compared to underweight group. Treatment seeking behaviour was quite poor in lower SEC as compared to upper SEC. 20.34% participants had extreme pain while walking. 14.87% experienced extreme difficulty during getting standing position from sitting position.

Treatment seeking behavior of the dog bite patients in Himachal Pradesh, India: a qualitative study

Background: Rabies is a practically 100% fatal zoonotic disease. A person is bitten every 2 seconds, and someone dies from rabies every 30 minutes. In this regard perception of victim and their attitude towards treatment forms an important role for prevention against rabies. It is noted that in Himachal Pradesh the less knowledge of people about rabies, impact of traditional healers and unavailability of the RIGs and ARVs especially in the primary health centers affect the treatment seeking behavior of the patients. Methods: A qualitative study was done in the three districts of Himachal with effect from 1 st June 2014 to 30 th May 2015. Thematic and simple proportional analysis of the data was done for the interpretation of the results. Results: Males were more victims as compared to females. Most affected age group was 0-15 years. 56.93% of the patients immediately washed the wound, 43.38% of the patients opted the rational treatment where as 57.62% used both traditional as well as rational treatment. Delay and drop out was seen in 69.24% and 21.53% of the patients respectively. Conclusions: Treatment seeking behaviour of the patients affected by the number of factors. Awareness among people about rabies and ensuring the availability of RIGs and ARV at all the levels of health care centers is necessary.

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Risk Profile, Clinical Presentation and Treatment Seeking Behavior of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) at Selected Hospital, Coimbatore

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Risk Profile, Clinical Presentation and Treatment Seeking Behavior of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) at Selected Hospital, Coimbatore

A study of knowledge, practices and treatment seeking behaviour among diabetic patients

Background: Adherence is a complex process and patients’ decisions about how to manage their medications are likely based on economic, physical, psychological, and social considerations. Identifying factors associated with adherence would be of value for family physicians in focusing strategies to enhance patient adherence to antihypertensive medications. The objectives of the study were to knowledge, practices and treatment seeking behavior of patients with diabetes. Methods: Present study is a hospital based cross sectional study using interview technique carried out in the Medicine department of Malla Reddy hospital among 64 diabetic patients. Data was collected in predesigned, semi structured questionnaire. Information on socio-demographic profile, knowledge about diabetes, practices about diabetes, treatment seeking behaviour related to diabetes and quality of life was collected and recorded. Results: Overall knowledge of patients as assessed by these seven questions was very good. The overall treatment seeking behavior was found to be very good among these patients. It is observed from above table that majority of patients were following practices like wearing shoes regularly and dietary advice. Only 50% of patients had got their eyes checked in the last one year. However, practices such as checking blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels and consulting the physician regularly were not followed, as they should be. Conclusions: Knowledge of most diabetic patients was good. However, they were not regular with their check-ups. The overall treatment seeking behaviour was in line with modern medicine as well as diet. Diabetic patients were not extensively affected by the disease regarding quality of life. Most patients were able to carry out daily tasks. Still, there is a need of health education as many patients do not have adequate knowledge.

Epidemiological study of patients attending anti-rabies vaccination clinic of tertiary care hospital of Southern Maharashtra, India

Background: Epidemiology of animal bite is imperative for policy making, planning and effective implementation of prevention and control programme at local, state and national level. The objective was to study the epidemiology of patients attending anti-rabies vaccination clinic and to study treatment seeking behavior of patients attending anti-rabies vaccination clinic. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in patients attending anti-rabies vaccination clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Solapur during January to December 2013. Detail history regarding socio-demographic profile, type of bites including site, duration, category of exposure, wound toilet, treatment, etc. was inquired. Results: Out of total 7371 patients screened, 71.75% were males and 28.25% were females. Maximum patients i.e. 52.31% were educated up to high school and 4.71% were illiterate. Majority of the patients i.e. 83.63 % were from urban areas. Dog was the most common (93%) biting animal and 34.72% animal bites were of category III. 70.99% injuries were of superficial type and 29.01% were deep wounds. Maximum number i.e. 44.35 % bites were on lower limb, 30.86% were on upper limb, 16.8% on head, neck, face and 7.99% on trunk. Around 40.54 % patients did nothing as pre-treatment management of wound. Anti-rabies vaccine was administered to 99.35% of cases and rabies immunoglobulin to 35.26% cases. Conclusion: Our study findings suggests that the majority of the patients were from urban set up inflicted upon by animal bites with poor knowledge regarding wound care and seeking early treatment.

Referral systems and health care seeking behavior of patients: An economic analysis

This paper studies medical referral systems in developing countries in relation to patients' health care seeking behavior. It is shown that the vertical referral structures are consistent with patients' cost minimizing behavior in their search for medical treatment. This consistency is a consequence of a common desire among patients and health planners to minimize costs of treating illnesses, so as to get the most from their limited resources. The conditions under which the medical referral system reflects treatment seeking behavior of patients are specified. Since these conditions do not hold exactly in the real world, the referral system has some major weaknesses as a model of how national health service delivery systems actually function. Reforms are suggested to rectify these weaknesses.