Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

This study sought to identify the socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of people seeking health-related help from non-professional, these reasons for seeking help and the sources of health information available to the public. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia, between Sep 2014 - March 2015. The sample size was calculated to be 195 Saudi adults. An Online survey was used to distribute a well-structured questionnaire. A total of 269 participants inculeded, One hundred and ninety-one (71%) were female, and 152 (56.5%) were 30 years old or less. The majority were unmarried 164 (61%). The majority consulted a medical doctor 143 (53%), followed by self-help and relatives 100 (37%). Physician consultations increased as the participants get older while dependence on self-help and relatives consultations decreased. The majority of married participants consulted Physician 69(65.7%) but many unmarried prefer self-help and relatives consultations 72 (43.9%). Approximately half who prefer self and relatives help get perceived benefit and while the other half notice no difference. There are 25 (9.3%) who had nonspecific disorders. Those who consulted medically trained practitioner 13(52%) and a high proportion of them 11 (84.6%) claimed to get a benefit. While, only 4 (33.3%) out of 12 (48%) who consulted non-medically qualified practitioner noticed any benefit. Help-seeking behavior HSB in the Saudi community still need improvement because about half of the participants seeks non-medical help. We hope this study stimulate researchers to cover different sides of HSB such as the influence of the internet on self-care.

Biography

Email: waleedjbreen@gmail.com