Health information sources and health-seeking behaviours of Filipinos living in medically underserved communities: Empirical quantitative research.
Jennifer Kawi, Miguel Fudolig, Reimund Serafica and 4 others
PMID 38488390WHAT IT FOUND
Underserved Filipino adults most often got health information from family and friends, and most saw a doctor when ill.
Many also used herbal medicine or prayer. Older adults used rural health centres more; women used prayer more.
Key findings
01Family and friends were the most common health information source (59.6%), followed by television/radio (37%), print media (18.3%) and healthcare professionals (12.2%).
02When ill, 69.1% saw a doctor, while 43.9% used herbal medicines, 39.5% prayed and 31.5% visited a rural health centre.
03Older adults were estimated to be 1.44 times more likely to seek a doctor and 3.09 times more likely to seek a rural health centre than younger adults.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional and self-reported, so it cannot show that any information source caused better or worse health-seeking behaviour. Participants were recruited from rural health clinics in medically underserved communities, and some communities lacked access to a rural health facility within 30 minutes, so results may not apply to people with better access. The survey did not assess how participants used the information they received or whether it improved decision-making. Only one adult per household was eligible, so household information-sharing may not be captured. Maternity and paediatric healthcare utilisation were not evaluated. Analyses were exploratory, and missing demographic data were not included in means.
Declared interests
No specific grant funded the study, and the authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that patients are well informed or that family/friends and television/radio provide accurate information. The study is cross-sectional and self-reported, so it cannot show whether these sources led to good health decisions or whether access to care improved.