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Factors Adversely Influencing the Health-Seeking Behaviour and Medical Follow-Up Compliance COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

33 Pages Posted: 15 Aug 2022

See all articles by Shiqi Li

Shiqi Li

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology

Sheung Yu Max Ng

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology

Victor HF Lee

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology

More...

Abstract

Background: There is increasing evidence that the homeless are more likely to develop chronic diseases than the general population. Homeless people, the city’s most vulnerable, have faced unprecedented challenges when seeking healthcare services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is well recognised that good health-seeking behaviour and medical follow-up compliance play a critical role in long-term chronic disease management. This study aims to identify adverse factors correlated with poor health-seeking behaviour and medical follow-up compliance in the sheltered homeless during the pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2021 in one of the 18 administrative districts in Hong Kong. Face-to-face interviews with the sheltered homeless were administered by two native speakers with a structured questionnaire including the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Association of all collected data with health-seeking behaviour and medical follow-up compliance were examined. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of poor health-seeking behaviour and medical follow-up compliance.

Findings: Thirty-four sheltered homeless participated in the study and were included in the data analysis. 64·7% of the participants would seek medical help when feeling unwell and the medical follow-up attendance rate was 44·1%. In multivariate analysis, two independent predictors of poor health-seeking behaviour were age <55 years (OR 14·73 [95% CI 1·34–161·61]; p=0·028), and over-the-counter medication use in the past year (OR 40·16 [95% CI 3·31–487·88]; p=0·0038). Besides, two independent predictors of poor medical follow-up compliance included BIPQ score <45 (OR 6·84 [95% CI 1·17–40·04]; p=0·033), and scheduled visits to specialist outpatient clinics (OR 9·51 [95% CI 1·43–63·24]; p=0·020).

Interpretation: We identified predictors of poor health-seeking behaviour and medical follow-up compliance in our sheltered homeless during the pandemic. Targeted healthcare strategies and contingency plans should be formulated to support these underprivileged during the unprecedented challenging period.

Funding Information: None.

Declaration of Interests: VHFL reports personal fees and grants from AstraZeneca; and personal fees from AQUILAB, Amgen, Boston Scientific, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer and Takeda, all outside of this study. All other authors declare no competing interest.

Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of The University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (reference number UW 21-663 and UW 21-705) before commencement.

Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Sheltered homeless, Chronic diseases, Health-seeking behaviour, Medical follow-up compliance, Hong Kong

Suggested Citation

Li, Shiqi and Ng, Sheung Yu Max and Lee, Victor HF, Factors Adversely Influencing the Health-Seeking Behaviour and Medical Follow-Up Compliance COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4190315 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4190315

Shiqi Li

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology ( email )

Sheung Yu Max Ng

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology ( email )

Victor HF Lee (Contact Author)

The University of Hong Kong - Department of Clinical Oncology

China

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