Symptom-specific health-seeking behavior pattern in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background Health-seeking behaviors vary across different diseases but symptoms that were experienced by patients may more realistically affect health-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, existing sources of syndromic surveillance data are affected by the choice of health service and hence understanding symptom-specific health-seeking behavior may improve estimation of underlying disease burden. Objectives This study described symptom-specific health-seeking behavior of Hong Kong general population and the factors associated with the choice of medical consultations. Method We randomly recruited 3253 subjects from the general population and conducted 4 rounds of longitudinal telephone surveys over 1.5 year, to describe symptom-specific health-seeking behavior at times with different level of disease activity. We collected information if healthcare service was being sought for and types of medical consultation after onset of different symptoms. Generalized estimating equation model was used to explore factors associated with health-seeking behaviors. Results Fever is the symptom most likely to prompt people to seek medical attention. We further focused on ILI, defined as fever ≥37.8℃ plus either cough or sore throat. There were 111 episodes of ILI in the study period. Of which, 85.6%, 6.3% and 18.9% visits GP, GOPC and CMP respectively (some have sought for multiple health service types), while 9% did not seek for any medical attention. The factors associated with going to GP consultation included female, younger age, having chronic disease condition, and having symptoms of fever, cough runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting. Conclusions Syndromic surveillance data from different sources (e.g. medical consultation) were affected by different health seeking or reporting behavior. Understanding and quantifying these behaviors may help refine public health communications to different subgroups.