Treatment seeking patterns of the COVID-19 first wave patients: a narrative study from Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background: The COVID-19 has already taken the lives of 4,088,281 people worldwide. To date, the deadly virus has killed 17,894 people in Bangladesh following a sharp increase in death per day. The current article focuses on the treatment-seeking patterns of COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in the country. Methods: This is a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 30 respondents selected purposively. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed narratively. Results: The study shows that 28 out of 30 participants pursued treatments from home, whilst, two individuals with comorbidity got admitted to the hospitals for weeks. This indicates that there is an association between comorbidity and hospitalization of the COVID-19 patients. The study reveals that the use of telemedicine service amidst COVID-19 has initiated a new era of health-seeking among people in Bangladesh. Similarly, media and the internet played a significant role in the quick access to information about the pandemic as well as to decide on the response and healing patterns of the participants. Besides the pharmaceutical drugs, using herbs was a common remedial process among the patients in the study. Conclusions: Like other countries, people in Bangladesh are also puzzled about the coronavirus and its treatment procedures. A proper response to the current situation, an effective preparedness policy, and public awareness are crucial for tackling the further destruction resulting from a highly infectious disease.

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Time delays in treatment of snakebite patients in rural Sri Lanka and the need for rapid diagnostic tests

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0008914 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. e0008914

Author(s):

Anjana Silva ◽

Jiri Hlusicka ◽

Nipuna Siribaddana ◽

Subodha Waiddyanatha ◽

Senaka Pilapitiya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Time Delays ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Rapid Diagnostics ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Delayed Treatment ◽

Transferred Patients

Delays in treatment seeking and antivenom administration remain problematic for snake envenoming. We aimed to describe the treatment seeking pattern and delays in admission to hospital and administration of antivenom in a cohort of authenticated snakebite patients. Adults (> 16 years), who presented with a confirmed snakebite from August 2013 to October 2014 were recruited from Anuradhapura Hospital. Demographic data, information on the circumstances of the bite, first aid, health-seeking behaviour, hospital admission, clinical features, outcomes and antivenom treatment were documented prospectively. There were 742 snakebite patients [median age: 40 years (IQR:27–51; males: 476 (64%)]. One hundred and five (14%) patients intentionally delayed treatment by a median of 45min (IQR:20-120min). Antivenom was administered a median of 230min (IQR:180–360min) post-bite, which didn’t differ between directly admitted and transferred patients; 21 (8%) receiving antivenom within 2h and 141 (55%) within 4h of the bite. However, transferred patients received antivenom sooner after admission to Anuradhapura hospital than those directly admitted (60min [IQR:30-120min] versus 120min [IQR:52-265min; p<0.0001]). A significantly greater proportion of transferred patients had features of systemic envenoming on admission compared to those directly admitted (166/212 [78%] versus 5/43 [12%]; p<0.0001), and had positive clotting tests on admission (123/212 [58%] versus 10/43 [23%]; p<0.0001). Sri Lankan snakebite patients present early to hospital, but there remains a delay until antivenom administration. This delay reflects a delay in the appearance of observable or measurable features of envenoming and a lack of reliable early diagnostic tests. Improved early antivenom treatment will require reliable, rapid diagnostics for systemic envenoming.

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The role of awareness and engagement in safeguarding the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

10.24124/2021/59185 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Rachelle Linde

Keyword(s):

Resource Management ◽

Research Design ◽

Management Practices ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Place Branding ◽

Policy Formation ◽

Media Analysis ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Management Area

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) in northern British Columbia is globally significant for its size, special resource management, and cultural and ecological values. These characteristics were secured in perpetuity through the British Columbian Government’s M-KMA Act in 1998. However, today low public awareness and engagement are seen as threats to the M-KMA’s effectiveness and longevity. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research examined the role of awareness and engagement in safeguarding the M-KMA by conducting semi-structured interviews and a media analysis, both of which informed a public survey. Informing the research design were underlying theories in sense of place, place branding, and the relationship of planned behaviour to place-protective behaviour. Additionally, resource management practices like ecosystem-based management informed the research design and methods of public participation in policy formation.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine versus Conventional Medicine Use in Thalassemia Patients

Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal ◽

10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.2665 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (16) ◽

pp. 105-111

Author(s):

Wan Ismahanisa Ismail ◽

Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali ◽

Maryam Farooqui ◽

Muhammad Nabil Fikri Roslan ◽

Nazri Che Dom

Keyword(s):

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Conventional Medicine ◽

Publishing House ◽

Medicine Use ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

International Publishing ◽

Treatment Procedures ◽

Open Access Article ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Background: This study explores thalassemia patients' perceptions concerning the effectiveness of conventional therapies for Thalassemia healthcare. Method: The semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Results: Nearly all thalassemia patients reported to have relied on conventional treatment methods to treat and reduce the severity of their disease. Few patients reported not to comply with their treatment procedures due to fear of infection through blood transfusion, surgery and organ failure. Conclusions: In conclusion, patients showed positive views about the conventional therapies carried out for Thalassemia. Keywords:: Thalassemia; qualitative; conventional; complementary and alternative medicine eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.2665

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The "Sangoma" or the Healthcare Center? Health-Seeking Practices of Women Living in the Mangaung Township (Bloemfontein, South Africa)

Qualitative Sociology Review ◽

10.18778/1733-8077.13.1.12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 210-227

Author(s):

Naomi Yvonne Mbelekani ◽

Amanda M. Young-Hauser ◽

Jan K. Coetzee

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Medical Treatment ◽

Western Medicine ◽

Social Economic ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Narrative Study ◽

Critical Knowledge ◽

Healthcare Center ◽

Different Types

Traditional and Western medicine are both commonplace in South Africa, and are often consulted in conjunction with each other. The article aims to fill critical knowledge gaps in understanding how women as caregivers decide on medication when experiencing illness in the home. In order to achieve valid and rich in-depth understanding about the types of medicine that individuals opt for, a narrative study was conducted. The research participants are women from Bloemfontein’s townships. Analysis of the participants’ narratives suggests that there are social-economic, traditional, and cultural trajectories associated with negotiating medical treatment. The findings indicate that the context in which individuals give meaning to, diagnose, and treat illness influences their remedial choices. Accordingly, many individuals constantly shift between different types of remedies, as they believe that they yield different, but unique possibilities and solutions.

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How Social Relationships Influence Substance Use Disorder Recovery: A Collaborative Narrative Study

Substance Abuse Research and Treatment ◽

10.1177/1178221819833379 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 117822181983337 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Henning Pettersen ◽

Anne Landheim ◽

Ivar Skeie ◽

Stian Biong ◽

Morten Brodahl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Service Providers ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Support Network ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Narrative Study ◽

Study Planning ◽

Caring Relationship

Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) often have fewer social support network resources than those without SUDs. This qualitative study examined the role of social relationships in achieving and maintaining stable recovery after many years of SUD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants, each of whom had been diagnosed with a SUD and each of whom had been abstinent for at least 5 years. A resource group of peer consultants in long-term recovery from SUDs contributed to the study planning, preparation, and initial analyses. The relationship that most participants described as helpful for initiating abstinence was recognition by a peer or a caring relationship with a service provider or sibling. These findings suggest that, to reach and maintain abstinence, it is important to maintain positive relationships and to engage self-agency to protect oneself from the influences of negative relationships. Substance use disorder service providers should increase the extent to which they involve the social networks of clients when designing new treatment approaches. Service providers should also focus more on individualizing services to meet their clients on a personal level, without neglecting professionalism or treatment strategies.

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Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Singapore: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Policy Context, Challenges, Facilitators, and Proposed Strategies

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics8040201 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 201 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shweta Rajkumar Singh ◽

Alvin Qijia Chua ◽

Sok Teng Tan ◽

Clarence C. Tam ◽

Li Yang Hsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resource Constraints ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Control Programs ◽

Policy Context ◽

National Environment ◽

Interpretative Approach

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that warrants urgent attention. However, the multifaceted nature of AMR often complicates the development and implementation of comprehensive policies. In this study, we describe the policy context and explore experts’ perspectives on the challenges, facilitators, and strategies for combating AMR in Singapore. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 participants. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed thematically, adopting an interpretative approach. Participants reported that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has effectively funded AMR control programs and research in all public hospitals. In addition, a preexisting One Health platform, among MOH, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (restructured to form the Singapore Food Agency and the Animal & Veterinary Service under NParks in April 2019), National Environment Agency, and Singapore’s National Water Agency, was perceived to have facilitated the coordination and formulation of Singapore’s AMR strategies. Nonetheless, participants highlighted that the success of AMR strategies is compounded by various challenges such as surveillance in private clinics, resource constraints at community-level health facilities, sub-optimal public awareness, patchy regulation on antimicrobial use in animals, and environmental contamination. This study shows that the process of planning and executing AMR policies is complicated even in a well-resourced country such as Singapore. It has also highlighted the increasing need to address the social, political, cultural, and behavioral aspects influencing AMR. Ultimately, it will be difficult to design policy interventions that cater for the needs of individuals, families, and the community, unless we understand how all these aspects interact and shape the AMR response.

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A qualitative inquiry into cashwaqfmodel as a source of financing for micro enterprises

ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance ◽

10.1108/ijif-07-2017-0013 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 19-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohamed Asmy Bin Mohd Thas Thaker

Keyword(s):

Financial Services ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Qualitative Inquiry ◽

Primary Data ◽

Key Factors ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

Enterprise Investment ◽

Micro Enterprises

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the opinions and recommendations of various experts on the integrated cashwaqfmicro enterprise investment (ICWME-I) model, particularly in terms of its suitability, applicability and prospects in the market.Design/methodology/approachThe research involves primary data which are collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with experts from various backgrounds. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data.FindingsThe experts support the suitability of the ICWME-I model in providing financial services to micro enterprises. They highlight the importance of establishing, managing and operating ICWME-I model under the aegis of the State Islamic Religious Council in Malaysia or the corporate sector. They further emphasize that the characteristics of micro enterprises, the element of sustainable funding, the importance of proper management and administration, legal matters and public awareness are key factors that influence the sustainability of the ICWME-I model.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the literature onwaqfand micro enterprises especially from the Malaysian context. The paper validates the ICWME-I model in terms of its suitability, applicability and prospects in the market by interviewing experts from various backgrounds.

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“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover”: A Qualitative Study of Methadone Patients’ Experiences of Stigma

Substance Abuse Research and Treatment ◽

10.1177/1178221816685087 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 117822181668508 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Julia Woo ◽

Anuja Bhalerao ◽

Monica Bawor ◽

Meha Bhatt ◽

Brittany Dennis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Stigma Reduction ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

Care Workers ◽

Reduction Strategies ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Methadone Patients

Introduction: Despite its efficacy and widespread use, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) continues to be widely stigmatized. Reducing the stigma surrounding MMT will help improve the accessibility, retention, and treatment outcomes in MMT. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing MMT. Thematic content analysis was used to identify overarching themes. Results: In total, 78% of participants reported having experienced stigma surrounding MMT. Common stereotypes associated with MMT patients included the following: methadone as a way to get high, incompetence, untrustworthiness, lack of willpower, and heroin junkies. Participants reported that stigma resulted in lower self-esteem; relationship conflicts; reluctance to initiate, access, or continue MMT; and distrust toward the health care system. Public awareness campaigns, education of health care workers, family therapy, and community meetings were cited as potential stigma-reduction strategies. Discussion and Conclusion: Stigma is a widespread and serious issue that adversely affects MMT patients’ quality of life and treatment. More efforts are needed to combat MMT-related stigma.

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Internet search query analysis can be used to demonstrate the rapidly increasing public awareness of palliative care in the USA

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001171 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 40-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sarah McLean ◽

Paul Lennon ◽

Paul Glare

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Search Term ◽

Internet Search ◽

Search Query ◽

Health Seeking ◽

The Public ◽

Health Related ◽

The Usa ◽

The Uk

BackgroundA lack of public awareness of palliative care (PC) has been identified as one of the main barriers to appropriate PC access. Internet search query analysis is a novel methodology, which has been effectively used in surveillance of infectious diseases, and can be used to monitor public awareness of health-related topics.ObjectivesWe aimed to demonstrate the utility of internet search query analysis to evaluate changes in public awareness of PC in the USA between 2005 and 2015.MethodsGoogle Trends provides a referenced score for the popularity of a search term, for defined regions over defined time periods. The popularity of the search term ‘palliative care’ was measured monthly between 1/1/2005 and 31/12/2015 in the USA and in the UK.ResultsResults were analysed using independent t-tests and joinpoint analysis. The mean monthly popularity of the search term increased between 2008–2009 (p<0.001), 2011–2012 (p<0.001), 2013–2014 (p=0.004) and 2014–2015 (p=0.002) in the USA. Joinpoint analysis was used to evaluate the monthly percentage change (MPC) in the popularity of the search term. In the USA, the MPC increase was 0.6%/month (p<0.05); in the UK the MPC of 0.05% was non-significant.DiscussionAlthough internet search query surveillance is a novel methodology, it is freely accessible and has significant potential to monitor health-seeking behaviour among the public. PC is rapidly growing in the USA, and the rapidly increasing public awareness of PC as demonstrated in this study, in comparison with the UK, where PC is relatively well established is encouraging in increasingly ensuring appropriate PC access for all.

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Examining Stakeholder’s Views On Refugee Healthcare Needs, Current Barriers in Accessing Healthcare Services and Future Healthcare Direction in New Zealand: A Qualitative Phenomenological Approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-877910/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bafreen Sherif ◽

Ahmed Awaisu ◽

Nadir Kheir

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Health Services ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Healthcare Needs

Abstract Background The annual New Zealand refugee quota was increased to 1500 places from 2020 onwards as a response to the global refugee crisis. The specific healthcare needs of refugees are not clearly understood globally and communication between healthcare providers and refugees remains poor. Methods A phenomenological qualitative methodology was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews among purposively selected stakeholders who work in refugee organisations and relevant bodies in New Zealand. Results The participants indicated the need for a national framework of inclusion, mandating cultural competency training for frontline healthcare and non-healthcare personnel, creation of a national interpretation phone line, and establishing health navigators. Barriers to accessing health services identified included some social determinants of health such as housing and community environment; health-seeking behaviour and health literacy; and social support networks. Future healthcare delivery should focus on capacity building of existing services, including co-design processes, increased funding for refugee-specific health services, and whole government approach. Conclusion Policymakers and refugee organisations and their frontline personnel should seek to address the deficiencies identified in order to provide equitable, timely and cost-effective healthcare services for refugees in New Zealand.

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