HOW AWARE ARE PATIENT ABOUT THEIR ILLNESS BEFORE PRESENTATION TO A GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTH-SOUTH REGION OF NIGERIA
Awareness of illness before presentation
Abstract
Background: Background: In recent times, the doctor is no longer the first source of contact for health problems. Health information can be obtained from different sources, which can influence perception of medical knowledge of an individual. The study assessed how aware are patients about their illness before clinical encounter, their preferred sources of health information and the reasons for their choice.
Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted at the Family Medicine Clinic, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria. Participants, aged 18 years and above were recruited using systematic random sampling method. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. Data was analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solution version 22.
Results: The study recruited 225 participants with the mean age of 43.42 ± 15.33years, with more females (60.0%) than males (40.0%). Study found that 44.4% had an idea or knew something about their illness prior to consultation and 64.0% got the information from a doctor. Almost all (90.0%) the participants who knew something about their illness indicated that this influenced their decision to visit the health facility, as 72.0% reported better treatment as their reason for hospital visit while 16.9% opted for specialist opinion. Doctors were the most preferred source of health information (48.9%). This was followed by chemist/pharmacist (19.6%), nurse (9.3%) and internet (7.1%). An almost equal proportion of participants indicated easy access (44.8%) and reliable (40.0%) as the reasons for their preferred source of health information.
