Health seeking behavior of stroke patients: experience from a tertiary care centre of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the health seeking behavior of stroke patients and their associates as well as to identify the barriers of service intervention. The study was done at Occupational Therapy Department of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed [CRP], Dhaka, Bangladesh. A purposive sampling technique and pre-tested structured questionnaire were used for data collection. Face-to-face interviews were taken from 133 respondents obtaining informed consent. Majority [74.4%] of the patients took treatment from medical graduates and rest from village doctors [10.5%] and traditional healers [15.0%]. 51.1% patients knew about stroke from hospital whereas 14.3% from Kobiraj/Homeopath and 14.3% from their own experiences. Majority [85.7%] patients knew about the importance of initial treatment and 50.4% respondents had knowledge of better treatment facilities whereas 49.6% didn't. Participants view to seek treatment after stroke was significantly high [p < 0.001] despite barriers. The barriers were lack of money [52.6%], difficulties in transportation [31.6%] and lack of interest and family support [15.8%]. The result might be useful for policy makers to take further initiatives for better management of stroke patients and to improve the quality of their life