Illness behaviour and help seeking

Question 1

What is illness behaviour?

Answer 1

Illness behaviour is the behaviours a person engages in once they believe they are ill, initiated by a noticeable change in body function interpreted as ill health

Question 2

How does help seeking behaviour differ by gender?

Answer 2

Women are more likely to seek help, report distress and evaluate their heath as poor with the same activity limitation of symptoms than men.

Question 3

How does help seeking behaviour differ by age?

Answer 3

Older people over 51 are more likely to have screening health checks and ask for illness prevention advice.t

Question 4

How does help seeking behaviour differ by race/ethnicity?

Answer 4

South Asian men are less likely to report musculoskeletal symptoms. South Asian people are more likely to report widespread or regional pain compared to Europeans. Africans are more likely to turn to religion.

Question 5

What is the symptom iceburg?

Answer 5

The symptom iceberg shows that majority of symptom experiences are not brought to the attention of the GP. Symptoms are mostly managed by lay people.

Question 6

What is the lay referral system?

Answer 6

The lay referral system can be friends family, the internet and alternative therapists. Alternative therapists can use aromatherapy and acupuncture.

Question 7

What is help seeking behaviour?

Answer 7

Help-seeking behaviour is a behaviour that is problem focused and planned which includes the interpersonal interaction between a patient and a HCP for treatment, advice and support.

Question 8

What is Zola’s triggers?

Answer 8

Interpersonal crisis-> personal experience that creates worry like death or a loved one’s diagnosis.
Relationships/perceived social interference- fear about how symptoms may affect social perception
Sanctioning- people urging you to see a HCP
Activities- symptoms limiting your activity that creates fear about diagnosis’ effect
Temporalizing of symptoms- self inflicted time limit before seeking advice

Question 9

What disencourages help seeking behaviour?

Answer 9

Lack of health understanding about the severity or awareness of symtoms eg. symptoms eased temporarily, attributing it to something else
Vague symptoms
Live alone
Fear/embarassment
self management of symptoms till it is more severe
financial strain (inverse care)
structural barriers
->language proficiency
->confusion about accessing the service
stigma

Question 10

What are barriers to seeking help?

Answer 10

Financial strain due to no time off work, travel costs, childcare costs(inverse care)
Structural barriers
->language proficiency
->confusion about accessing the service
fear and embarassment
stigma
attitudes of staff