Treatment Seeking Behaviors and Associated Factors among Patients Experiencing Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Health Belief Model in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lelmlem Beza, Addis Ababa University; Bekele Alemayehu, Addis Ababa University; Adamu Addissie, Addis Ababa University; Aklilu Azazh, Addis Ababa University; Rebecca Gary, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-07-01
• Publisher: Ethiopian journal of health sciences
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 Lemlem Beza, et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v32i4.15
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Ethiopian journal of health sciences
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 781
• End Page: 790
• Grant/Funding Information: Addis Ababa and Emory University funded this research.
• Keywords: acute coronary syndrome; Cross-Sectional Studies; Treatment seeking behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Belief Model; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Humans; Ethiopia
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Nursing

Abstract

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening condition. The mortality rate will be reduced if immediate treatment is provided. Patients' awareness of ACS is limited, so they do not seek help as quite often as they should. The level of treatment seeking behavior and associated factors among ACS patients admitted to three hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were assessed using a health belief model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 ACS patients from November 2019 to December 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical variables data were extracted using pre-tested checklist. The outcome and other variables data were collected using the checklist and structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 and exported to STATA 17.1 for analysis. Descriptive statistics relevant to the variable was performed. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with treatment seeking behavior. Results: This study revealed that the mean time from symptom onset to arrival at the emergency unit (EU) was 24 ± 19.5 hours, slightly < half of the participants (n=149, 45.1 %) had adequate treatment seeking behavior. Perceived threat (AOR=1.03,95% CI:1.01-1.06, p=0.002), perceived benefits (AOR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.02-1.0, p≤0.001), self-efficacy (AOR=1.16, 95% CI :1.01- 1.22, p≤0.001), education (AOR=2.2,95%CI:1.31-3.9, p≤0.01) self-autonomy (AOR=3.1,95%CI:1.82-5.4, p<.001) and no depression (AOR=1.9,95%CI:1.1-3.3, p≤0.05) were found to have significantly association with adequate treatment seeking behavior. Conclusion: This study indicates, less than half of ACS patients had adequate treatment seeking behavior. Thus, context-specific behavioral interventions, along with public awareness campaigns about ACS, should be implemented.