Health seeking behaviour amongst outpatients as Community Health Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan

Abstract

A cross-sectional study involving 200 outpatients at the Community Health Clinic (Klinik Perubatan Masyarakat) was undertaken between August and September 1994 to identify the health seeking behaviour as well as the knowledge of, attitude towards, and practice of health prevention and promotion as well as curative health strategy. Data was collected using a selfcompletion, semi-structured questionnaire administered to a random sample of out patients whilst waiting for their consultations. Results suggest that a significant proportion (15.2%) of the respondents presented with non-specific symptoms of illness whilst the majority of symptomatic presentations were those of fever (11.5%), headache (10.9%) and high blood pressure (7.3%). Majority of patients who seek a second mode of treatment after an apparent failure of the first mode of treatment, went to government doctors (41.5%), followed by private practitioners (36.9%) and medical assistant (6.2%); a sizable proportion (10.8%) seek traditional healers (bomoh). Majority of respondents (67.3%) kept their medications in the refrigerator. Significant correlations were shown between the following: younger age with diet (p=0.01); married status with knowledge regarding aetiology of disease (p=0.003); married status with consumption of traditional herbs (jamu) (p=0.04); married status with self-treatment (p=0.01); married status with vitamin necessity (p=0.006); higher employment category with self-help (p=0.02); salaried workers with antibiotics compliance (p=0.03) and others. Obviously further studies need to be conducted to examine these factors in relation to the health seeking behaviour in the community.