Analysis of healthcare-seeking behavior and influencing factors among community-dwelling patients with knee osteoarthritis
10.3760/cma.j.cn114798-20241126-00903
- VernacularTitle:社区就诊膝关节骨关节炎患者就医行为及影响因素分析
- Author:
Li LI
1
;
Li MA
;
Chen WANG
;
Yanli LIU
Author Information
1. 首都医科大学全科与继续教育学院，北京100070
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Knee osteoarthritis;
Healthcare-seeking behavior;
Community health services;
Influencing factors
- From:
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners
2025;24(8):945-952
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the healthcare-seeking behavior of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in the community and its influencing factors.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was used to select KOA patients who visited Fengtai Community Health Service Center from August to December 2022. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data on KOA patients and the characteristics of their healthcare-seeking behavior (healthcare-seeking intention and choice of first-contact medical institutions). Factors influencing their healthcare-seeking behavior were analyzed.Results:A total of 222 KOA patients were included, with a mean age of (67.35±9.82) years, and 40.5% (90/222) were male. Sixty-eight patients (30.6%) sought medical care immediately after symptoms appeared, and 154 patients (69.3%) did not. The main reasons for not seeking care immediately were considering the symptoms not serious (40.9%, 63/154) and self-treatment (35.7%, 55/154). Patients aged ≥65 years ( OR=2.413, 95% CI: 1.159-5.024), with a college degree or higher ( OR=3.285, 95% CI: 1.623-6.649), and with good medication adherence ( OR=2.122, 95% CI: 1.088-4.141) were more likely to seek medical treatment promptly after symptoms appeared (all P<0.05). Fifty patients (22.5%) chose primary medical institutions as their first contact. The main factors considered when choosing the first medical institution were the doctor′s competence (57.7%, 128/222) and equipment/facility conditions (55.4%, 123/222). Patients under 65 years old ( OR=0.512, 95% CI: 0.264-0.994), with agricultural household registration ( OR=1.954, 95% CI: 1.017-3.754), and those who had signed up for a family doctor ( OR=2.181, 95% CI: 1.101-4.320) were more inclined to choose primary medical institutions (all P<0.05). Conclusions:KOA patients in the community exhibit different healthcare-seeking behaviors based on their characteristics. The concepts of timely medical consultation and utilizing primary care facilities for initial contact need strengthening. Physicians′ competence and equipment/facility conditions significantly influence patients′ choice of medical institutions.
