WEEK 1: HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR AND PERCEPTION OF ILLNESS

Question 1

What is help seeking behavior?

Answer 1

as a problem focused, planned behaviour, involving interpersonal interaction with a selected health-care professional.

Question 2

What is the symptom iceberg?

Answer 2

The symptom iceberg is a phenomenon that describes how most symptoms are managed in the community without people seeking professional health care.

Question 3

What does the tip and base of the ice bag represent?

Answer 3

*The tip of the iceberg – health seekers
*Above base- the non-consulters who have symptoms but do not seek medical help

The visible part of the iceberg for a particular symptom represents the proportion that is presented to healthcare services.
The submerged part is the proportion that is not.

Question 4

Why Do People Seek Help?
-Zola’s Triggers

Answer 4

*Interpersonal crisis: symptoms threaten a relationship

*Interference with social or personal relationships. valued activities, Physical activities

*Sanctioning: a significant person [e.g., employer or spouse] urges treatment

*Temporalizing: setting of time criteria – “if it isn’t better in 3 days……then I’ll go…”]

Question 5

Describe the barriers and facilitators to help seeking behavior.

-Individual
-Health system

Answer 5

INDIVIDUAL
Disease: the type of disease
Demographic: age, sex
Psychological
Social
Environmental

HEALTH SYSTEM
Access
Quality of services
Attitudes of healthcare workers

Question 6

Describe the Strategies to Address Health Issues that the people have diverted to.

Answer 6

*Informal advisers and care- takers

*Self-care – based on folklore, media, websites, pharmacy…

*Alternative therapists & traditional healers

*Primary care clinics, emergency departments

*Apex of pyramid – secondary and tertiary care – highly selected minority of patient population