Effect of health fatalism on health perception and health-seeking behavior with multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of health fatalism on health perception and health-seeking behavior with multiple sclerosis in Türkiye.

Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between September 2023 and August 2024. The study sample consisted of 382 patients with MS, obtained through the snowball sampling method. The data collection tools included the descriptive information form, Health Fatalism Scale, Health Perception Scale, and Health Seeking Behavior Scale. The data were evaluated using means, percentage calculations, t test, variance analysis, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and MANOVA.The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Result: Among the participants, 86.6% were female, 63.7% had obtained a university degree, 65.8% were married, 46.2% were not employed, 70.2% had a moderate income, 88.3% took their medications as prescribed, and 89.9% underwent regular health examinations. The Health Fatalism Scale was found to be 40.40 ± 15.19. The total score for the Health Perception Scale was 50.73 ± 7.18. The mean total score for the Health Seeking Behavior Scale was 38.60 ± 8.44. The effect of health fatalism on the total score of the health perception scale was found to be significant (p=0.005), with health perception explained by health fatalism to the extent of 10.9%. However, no effect of health fatalism on health-seeking behavior was observed (p=0.987).

Conclusion: It was observed that as health fatalism increased, health perception was negatively affected. However, health perception and health fatalism did not affect health-seeking behavior.