Ng, Wei Leik C. and Toh, Jia Yong and Ng, Chirk Jenn C. and Teo, Chin Hai and Lee, Yew Kong C. and Loo, Kim Kee and Hadi, Haireen Abdul C. and Azhar, Abdul Muhaimin Noor (2023) Self-care practices and health-seeking behaviours in patients with dengue fever: A qualitative study from patients' and physicians' perspectives. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17 (4). ISSN 1935-2735, DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0011302.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Author summaryDengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease endemic in many tropical and subtropical regions. Most dengue cases are self-limiting and can be managed as outpatients without hospitalisation. Once diagnosed, patients are advised to return to the clinic daily for monitoring until they recover. However, some patients can deteriorate rapidly at home in between follow-up and fail to recognise the deterioration. Poor self-management often leads to a delay in seeking help and treatment; this significantly impacts morbidity and mortality. This research provides insight into the self-care practices, health-seeking behaviour and outpatient management of dengue from the perspectives of patients with dengue and primary care physicians who managed them. IntroductionOutpatient management for dengue fever is the mainstay of treatment for most dengue cases. However, severe dengue can develop rapidly while patients are at home. Understanding the self-care practices and healthcare-seeking behaviours among dengue patients managed as outpatients will help improve the delivery of care to these patients. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the self-care practices, health-seeking behaviour and outpatient management of dengue fever from the perspectives of patients and primary care physicians. MethodologyThis qualitative study used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to obtain information from laboratory-confirmed dengue patients who received outpatient care and primary care physicians who cared for them. Patients and physicians shared their experiences and perceptions of self-care practices, decisions to seek urgent care, and outpatient management procedures and visit frequency. Data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Results13 patients and 11 physicians participated. We discovered that the use of traditional remedies was common with patients perceiving no harm from it, whereas physicians did not see a benefit. Dengue patients' knowledge of warning signs was inadequate despite the information being provided by physicians during clinical follow-up visits. Regarding the decision to seek urgent medical care, physicians assumed patients would seek help immediately once they experienced warning signs. However, for the patients, other factors influenced their health-seeking behaviour, such as their personal perceptions of symptom severity and often more importantly, their social circumstances (e.g., availability of childcare). Patients also described regular outpatient follow-up for dengue as inconvenient. There was variation in the prescribed outpatient follow-up interval recommended by participating physicians who complained about the lack of clear guidelines. ConclusionPerceptions around self-care practices, health-seeking behaviour and outpatient management of dengue often differed between physicians and patients, especially on comprehension of dengue warning signs. Addressing these gaps between patient and physician perceptions and recognition of patient drivers of health-seeking behaviour are needed to improve the safety and delivery of outpatient care for dengue patients.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | University of Malaya Impact-Oriented Interdisciplinary Research Grant Programme [Grant No: IIRG002B-2020HWB] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Infectious Diseases; Parasitology; Tropical Medicine |
| Subjects: | R Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Sep 2025 01:59 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Sep 2025 01:59 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/50357 |
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