Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients
Doctor shopping increases health economic burden and morbidities. Its prevalence and predisposing factors have to be identified in order to formulate preventive measures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of doctor shopping, its reasons and predisposing factors by conducting a cross sectional stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Health Sciences UKM
2018
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/1/17684-76558-1-PB.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848788752443375616 |
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| author | Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida Jamil, Adawiyah Md Nor, Norazirah Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil |
| author_facet | Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida Jamil, Adawiyah Md Nor, Norazirah Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil |
| author_sort | Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Doctor shopping increases health economic burden and morbidities. Its prevalence and predisposing factors have to be identified in order to formulate preventive measures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of doctor shopping, its reasons and predisposing factors by conducting a cross sectional study of new patients at the Dermatology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Doctor shopping was defined as having consultation with ≥3 healthcare providers without a referral for the same illness prior to the patients’ visit to UKMMC. Reasons and contributing factors were classified as disease, healthcare provider, logistic and cost related. Data was collected by a face to face interview. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire determined disease impact on the patients. A total of 58 (55.8%) female and 46 (44.2%) male patients participated. Referral was patient-initiated in 51.9% while 40.4% were doctor shopping. Age, gender, ethnicity, income, occupation and type of health finance provider were not associated with this behaviour. About 95% doctor shopped due to disease factors: searching for a cure (95.2%), lack of improvement (88.1%), worsening disease (50.0%), dissatisfaction with treatment (31.0%), seeking other opinions (26.2%) and exploring treatment options (26.2%). Impaired DLQI (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.08,1.38), p 0.04, and disease related factors (OR 6.57; 95% CI 1.52, 7.72), p 0.041 were significant independent risk factors. Doctor shopping is very common among our patients. Reasons and predisposing factors are predominantly disease related. Patient education and counselling is important in management of dermatological diseases to prevent doctor shopping. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:45:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-79329 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:45:49Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Faculty of Health Sciences UKM |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-793292020-04-08T09:31:27Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/ Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida Jamil, Adawiyah Md Nor, Norazirah Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil RL Dermatology Doctor shopping increases health economic burden and morbidities. Its prevalence and predisposing factors have to be identified in order to formulate preventive measures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of doctor shopping, its reasons and predisposing factors by conducting a cross sectional study of new patients at the Dermatology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Doctor shopping was defined as having consultation with ≥3 healthcare providers without a referral for the same illness prior to the patients’ visit to UKMMC. Reasons and contributing factors were classified as disease, healthcare provider, logistic and cost related. Data was collected by a face to face interview. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire determined disease impact on the patients. A total of 58 (55.8%) female and 46 (44.2%) male patients participated. Referral was patient-initiated in 51.9% while 40.4% were doctor shopping. Age, gender, ethnicity, income, occupation and type of health finance provider were not associated with this behaviour. About 95% doctor shopped due to disease factors: searching for a cure (95.2%), lack of improvement (88.1%), worsening disease (50.0%), dissatisfaction with treatment (31.0%), seeking other opinions (26.2%) and exploring treatment options (26.2%). Impaired DLQI (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.08,1.38), p 0.04, and disease related factors (OR 6.57; 95% CI 1.52, 7.72), p 0.041 were significant independent risk factors. Doctor shopping is very common among our patients. Reasons and predisposing factors are predominantly disease related. Patient education and counselling is important in management of dermatological diseases to prevent doctor shopping. Faculty of Health Sciences UKM 2018 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/1/17684-76558-1-PB.pdf Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida and Jamil, Adawiyah and Md Nor, Norazirah and Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil (2018) Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients. Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences, 16 (2). pp. 71-76. E-ISSN 2289-4535 http://ejournal.ukm.my/jskm/index |
| spellingShingle | RL Dermatology Fauzee Andylim, Nizafaziasyida Jamil, Adawiyah Md Nor, Norazirah Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title | Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title_full | Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title_fullStr | Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title_short | Doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| title_sort | doctor shopping behaviour and its predisposing factors amongst dermatology patients |
| topic | RL Dermatology |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79329/1/17684-76558-1-PB.pdf |