European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are one of the important modern epidemics affecting the elderly and it also worsens with age.  Health seeking behavior among elderly plays an important role in managing NCDs properly and thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality from NCDs. And health seeking behavior in turn is influenced by various factors. Knowing more about the pattern of health seeking behavior and its determinants among elderly will help health care workers in taking proper measures to improve their health seeking behavior and thus improve the quality of living. Objectives: To assess the health seeking behavior among elderly living with NCDs in a rural area in Trivandrum district and to find out the determinants of health seeking behavior among them. Materials and methods: It is a qualitative study using Focus group discussion method. Done  within 3months during June 2022 to August 2022 in a rural grama  panchayath area in Trivandrum district, Kerala among elderly individuals  diagnosed with NCD like hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia,  heart diseases, residing in the that  panchayath area  in Trivandrum .Total of 2 FGDs were conducted with each one having minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 participants. Total of 18 participants were included. Details regarding socio-demographic details, details regarding pattern of health seeking behavior for NDCs, and factors influencing health seeking behavior were discussed. Results: In the current study it was found that half of the participants had good health seeking behavior. Less than half of the participants had self medication. Motivation from dear and near, fear of complication, good support from health care worker were found out to be the facilitating factors while Self medication, poor transportation availablty, poor attitude from health care workers, fear of Covid19, poor financial status were reported as reason for poor health seeking behavior in this study. Conclusion: Addressing these barriers by improving the awareness of public regarding NCDs and importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment along with overall improvement of health related facilities and quality health care services along with integration and coordination of public and private health services and promoting the various motivational factors can improve the overall health seeking behaviorBackground: Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are one of the important modern epidemics affecting the elderly and it also worsens with age.  Health seeking behavior among elderly plays an important role in managing NCDs properly and thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality from NCDs. And health seeking behavior in turn is influenced by various factors. Knowing more about the pattern of health seeking behavior and its determinants among elderly will help health care workers in taking proper measures to improve their health seeking behavior and thus improve the quality of living. Objectives: To assess the health seeking behavior among elderly living with NCDs in a rural area in Trivandrum district and to find out the determinants of health seeking behavior among them. Materials and methods: It is a qualitative study using Focus group discussion method. Done  within 3months during June 2022 to August 2022 in a rural grama  panchayath area in Trivandrum district, Kerala among elderly individuals  diagnosed with NCD like hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia,  heart diseases, residing in the that  panchayath area  in Trivandrum .Total of 2 FGDs were conducted with each one having minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 participants. Total of 18 participants were included. Details regarding socio-demographic details, details regarding pattern of health seeking behavior for NDCs, and factors influencing health seeking behavior were discussed. Results: In the current study it was found that half of the participants had good health seeking behavior. Less than half of the participants had self medication. Motivation from dear and near, fear of complication, good support from health care worker were found out to be the facilitating factors while Self medication, poor transportation availablty, poor attitude from health care workers, fear of Covid19, poor financial status were reported as reason for poor health seeking behavior in this study. Conclusion: Addressing these barriers by improving the awareness of public regarding NCDs and importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment along with overall improvement of health related facilities and quality health care services along with integration and coordination of public and private health services and promoting the various motivational factors can improve the overall health seeking behavior