The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health Seeking Behaviors of Adults Living With Chronic Conditions: A View Through the Health Belief Model

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruption in every facet of life including health service delivery. This has threatened the attainment of global targets to improve health and wellbeing of all persons. In particular, for persons living with chronic diseases, who require consistent monitoring by health professionals and medication to enhance their health, understanding how the pandemic has disruption their access to health care delivery is critical for interventions aimed at improving health service delivery for all as well as preparedness for future pandemic. This study applied the constructs of the Health Belief Model, to explore the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health seeking behaviors of persons living with chronic diseases. The design was exploratory descriptive. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data among persons living with chronic diseases in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Thematic analysis, both inductive and deductive, was conducted to unearth the findings. Awareness of increased susceptibility and risk of a more severe episode if they contracted COVID-19 as a result of the existing chronic diseases was identified. Lack of access to health professionals during the peak of the pandemic as well as the fear of contracting the virus while accessing their regular chronic disease clinic was the main barriers identified. Information in the media served as cues to action for adopting preventive health strategies. Behavior modifications; dietary and lifestyle, self-medication and adoption of COVID-19 related precautions were practiced. Susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 contributed to missed adherence to treatment appointment. The health belief model was a useful framework in exploring the health seeking behavior of the adults living with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 in this study setting. Intensifying targeted education for persons living with chronic diseases will contribute to the adoption of positive health seeking behaviors during future pandemic.

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Most cited references 37

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Using thematic analysis in psychology

Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke (2014)

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The Health Belief Model: a decade later.

N K Janz, M H Becker (1984)

Since the last comprehensive review in 1974, the Health Belief Model (HBM) has continued to be the focus of considerable theoretical and research attention. This article presents a critical review of 29 HBM-related investigations published during the period of 1974-1984, tabulates the findings from 17 studies conducted prior to 1974, and provides a summary of the total 46 HBM studies (18 prospective, 28 retrospective). Twenty-four studies examined preventive-health behaviors (PHB), 19 explored sick-role behaviors (SRB), and three addressed clinic utilization. A "significance ratio" was constructed which divides the number of positive, statistically-significant findings for an HBM dimension by the total number of studies reporting significance levels for that dimension. Summary results provide substantial empirical support for the HBM, with findings from prospective studies at least as favorable as those obtained from retrospective research. "Perceived barriers" proved to be the most powerful of the HBM dimensions across the various study designs and behaviors. While both were important overall, "perceived susceptibility" was a stronger contributor to understanding PHB than SRB, while the reverse was true for "perceived benefits." "Perceived severity" produced the lowest overall significance ratios; however, while only weakly associated with PHB, this dimension was strongly related to SRB. On the basis of the evidence compiled, it is recommended that consideration of HBM dimensions be a part of health education programming. Suggestions are offered for further research.

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High Contagiousness and Rapid Spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Steven Sanche, Yen Lin, Chonggang Xu … (2020)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic. Initial estimates of the early dynamics of the outbreak in Wuhan, China, suggested a doubling time of the number of infected persons of 6–7 days and a basic reproductive number (R0) of 2.2–2.7. We collected extensive individual case reports across China and estimated key epidemiologic parameters, including the incubation period (4.2 days). We then designed 2 mathematical modeling approaches to infer the outbreak dynamics in Wuhan by using high-resolution domestic travel and infection data. Results show that the doubling time early in the epidemic in Wuhan was 2.3–3.3 days. Assuming a serial interval of 6–9 days, we calculated a median R0 value of 5.7 (95% CI 3.8–8.9). We further show that active surveillance, contact tracing, quarantine, and early strong social distancing efforts are needed to stop transmission of the virus.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Prim Care Community Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Prim Care Community Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): JPC

Journal ID (hwp): spjpc

Title: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health

Publisher: SAGE Publications (Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA )

ISSN (Print): 2150-1319

ISSN (Electronic): 2150-1327

Publication date (Electronic): 19 March 2023

Publication date Collection: Jan-Dec 2023

Volume: 14

Electronic Location Identifier: 21501319231159459

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[2 ]Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[3 ]Regional Health Directorate, Central Region, Cape Coast, Ghana

[4 ]Mpigi District Local Government, District Health Office, Mpigi, Uganda

[5 ]Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[6 ]Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[7 ]Microbiology and Immunology Department, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[8 ]Clinical Microbiology/Public Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana

Author notes

[*]Susanna Aba Abraham, Adult Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Ghana. Email: sabraham@ 123456ucc.edu.gh

Author information

Susanna Aba Abraham https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3100-770X

Article

Publisher ID: 10.1177_21501319231159459

DOI: 10.1177/21501319231159459

PMC ID: 10028623

PubMed ID: 36935563

SO-VID: 8bb1c700-bf98-42b0-ba66-bf2123d025ee

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This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page( https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

History

Date received : 20 December 2022

Date revision received : 25 January 2023

Date accepted : 1 February 2023

Funding

Funded by: the University of Cape Coast, ;

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cover-date January-December 2023

typesetter ts1

Keywords: behavioral health,health promotion,qualitative methods,covid,disease management

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Keywords: behavioral health, health promotion, qualitative methods, covid, disease management

The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health Seeking Behaviors of Adults Living With Chronic Conditions: A View Through the Health Belief Model

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Abstract

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 37

Using thematic analysis in psychology

The Health Belief Model: a decade later.

High Contagiousness and Rapid Spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

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