Cold/Flu Knowledge, Attitudes and Health Care Practices: Results of a Two-City Telephone Survey (original) (raw)

Show available content in

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe knowledge, attitudes and practices of cold and flu self-care and health care utilization, and to identify the predictors of health care utilization for the cold and flu among residents of London and Windsor. Using a random digit dialing survey method, 417 residents were interviewed between November–December, 1993 and February–March, 1994.

This survey revealed good knowledge about colds and flu and understanding of appropriate physician visits. Only seven percent reported a doctor visit for their last cold. Socio-demographic, health status, attitude and knowledge level variables were subjected to a logistic regression analysis to identify which variables predicted self-reported physician visits. Only attitudes and health status showed statistically significant log odds (3.6 and 1.5, respectively). In summary, consistent with other studies, attitude and health status, not knowledge, appear to be significant predictors of physician visits for colds/flu.

References

• 1.Ministry of Health, Ontario, Health Strategies Office. Ontario Public Education Program on Health Care 1993; unpublished document.
• 2.Brown EM, Goel V. Reducing demand for physician visits through public education: A look at the pilot cold-and-flu campaign in London, Ontario. Can Med Assoc J. 1996;154(6):835–40. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 3.Vingilis E, Brown U, Koeppen R, et al. Evaluation of the Ministry of Health’s Cold Self-care Public Education Project. 1994. [Google Scholar]
• 4.Vingilis E, Brown U, Koeppen R, et al. Evaluation of a cold/flu self-care public education campaign. Health Educ Res. 1998;13(1):33–46. doi: 10.1093/her/13.1.33. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 5.Birch S, Eyles J, Newbold KB. Equitable access to health care: Methodological extensions to the analysis of physician utilization in Canada. Econometrics and Health Economics. 1993;2:87–101. doi: 10.1002/hec.4730020203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 6.Fylkesnes K. Determinants of health care utilization: Visits and referrals. Scand J Soc Med. 1993;21(1):40–50. doi: 10.1177/140349489302100107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 7.Hibbard JH, Pope CR. Another look at sex differences in the use of medical care: Illness orientation and the types of morbidities for which services are used. Women & Health. 1986;11(2):21–36. doi: 10.1300/J013v11n02_03. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 8.Kessler RC. Sex differences in the use of health services. In: McHugh S, Vallis TM, editors. Illness Behavior: A Multidisciplinary Model. New York: Plenum Press; 1985. [Google Scholar]
• 9.Ontario Premiers Council on Health, Weil-BeingSocial Justice. Ontario Health Survey 1990 Highlights. Toronto: Ministry of Health; 1992. [Google Scholar]
• 10.Ford CV. Illness as a lifestyle: The role of somatization in medical practice. Spine. 1992;17(105):S338–S343. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199210001-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 11.Barsky AJ, Wyshak G, Klerman GL. Medical and psychiatric determinants of outpatient medical utilization. Med Care. 1986;24(6):548–60. doi: 10.1097/00005650-198606000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 12.Roy-Byrne PP. Generalized anxiety and mixed anxiety-depression: Association with disability and health care utilization. J Clin Psychiatry. 1996;57(7):86–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 13.Wagner PJ, Hendrich JE. Physician views on frequent medical use: Patient beliefs and demographic and diagnostic correlates. J Fam Pract. 1993;36(4):417–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 14.Williams P, Skuse D. Depressive thoughts in general practice attenders. Psychol Med. 1988;18(2):469–75. doi: 10.1017/S003329170000800X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 15.Warren R. Wealth and Health, Health and Wealth. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 1994. [Google Scholar]
• 16.Browne GB, Humphrey B, Pallister R, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of frequent attenders in a prepaid Canadian family practice. J Fam Pract. 1982;14(1):63–71. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 17.Corney R, Murray J. The characteristics of high and low attenders at two general practices. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1988;23(1):39–48. doi: 10.1007/BF01788441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 18.Westhead JN. Frequent attenders in general practice: Medical, psychological and social characteristics. J Coll Gen Pract. 1985;35(276):337–40. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 19.Karlsson H, Lehtinen V, Joukamaa M. Frequent attenders of Finnish public primary health care: Sociodemographic characteristics and physical morbidity. Fam Pract. 1994;11(4):424–30. doi: 10.1093/fampra/11.4.424. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 20.Campbell SM, Roland MO. Why do people consult the doctor? Fam Pract. 1996;13(1):75–83. doi: 10.1093/fampra/13.1.75. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 21.Carr-Hill RA, Rice N, Roland M. Socioeconomic determinants of rates of consultation in general practice based on the Fourth National Morbidity Survey of General Practices. BMJ. 1996;312:1008–12. doi: 10.1136/bmj.312.7037.1008. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 22.Van de Kar A, Knottnerus A, Meertens R, et al. Why do patients consult the general practitioner? Determinants of their decision. Br J Gen Pract. 1992;42(361):313–16. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 23.McArdle C, Alexander WD, Murray Boyle C. Frequent attenders at a health centre. Practitioner. 1974;213(1277):696–702. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 24.Statistics Canada. General Social Survey Analysis Series. Health and Social Support, 1998. Ottawa: Ministry of Supply and Social Services; 1987. [Google Scholar]
• 25.Ministry of Health, Ontario. You Can’t Rush a Cold: But You Can Make Yourself Feel Better. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 1994. [Google Scholar]
• 26.Tones BK. Health Educ Res. 1985. The use and abuse of mass media in health promotion. [Google Scholar]
• 27.Kirshner B, Guyatt G. A methodological framework for assessing health indices. J Chron Dis. 1985;38(1):27–36. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(85)90005-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 28.Weiler RM, Sliepcevich EM, Sarvela PD. Development of the Adolescent Health Concerns Inventory. Health Educ Q. 1993;20(4):569–83. doi: 10.1177/109019819302000414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 29.Bradburn NM, Sudman S. Improving Interview Method and Questionnaire Design. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 1979. [Google Scholar]
• 30.Sudman S, Bradburn NM. Asking Questions. A Practical Guide to Questionnaire Design. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 1982. [Google Scholar]
• 31.Converse JM, Presser S. Survey Questions Handcrafting the Standardized Questionnaire. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications; 1986. [Google Scholar]
• 32.Berg AO, LoGerfo JP. Potential effect of self-care algorithms on the number of physician visits. N Engl J Med. 1979;300(10):535–37. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197903083001005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 33.Estabrook B. Consumer impact of a cold self-care center in a prepaid ambulatory care setting. Med Care. 1979;17(11):1139–45. doi: 10.1097/00005650-197911000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 34.Raymond CA. Survey adds evidence that office visits indicate ‘just tip of the iceberg’ of medical problems. JAMA. 1988;259(5):647–48. doi: 10.1001/jama.1988.03720050005003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 35.Keast DH, Marshall JN, Stewart M. Orr V Why do patients seek family physician’s services for cold symptoms? Can Fam Phys. 1999;44:335–40. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 36.Wallack LM. Mass media campaigns: The odds against finding behavior change. Health Educ Q. 1981;8:209–60. doi: 10.1177/109019818100800302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
• 37.Gabrielsen TS. Action oriented health education: A critical review of health campaigns in Denmark. Health Prom Int. 1993;8:13–19. doi: 10.1093/heapro/8.1.13. [DOI] [Google Scholar]