Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China
BackgroundHealthcare-seeking behavior is a crucial foundation for improving the rational use of healthcare resources and enhancing community health. Existing studies have predominantly focused on quantitative analyses of healthcare-seeking choices and their determinants based on the Homo Economicus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1627392/full |
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| author | Shu Wei Haifeng Long Yu Tian |
| author_facet | Shu Wei Haifeng Long Yu Tian |
| author_sort | Shu Wei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHealthcare-seeking behavior is a crucial foundation for improving the rational use of healthcare resources and enhancing community health. Existing studies have predominantly focused on quantitative analyses of healthcare-seeking choices and their determinants based on the Homo Economicus assumption, while neglecting the analysis of sociocultural processes underlying healthcare-seeking behavior.MethodsThis study employed participant observation and in-depth interviews to investigate thirty-two residents from ethnic minority rural areas, with selected typical cases subjected to focused discussion. Based on the theoretical perspective of social capital, this paper explores and analyzes the healthcare-seeking behavior and its underlying logic in ethnic minority rural areas.ResultsThe findings suggest that institutional trust and interpersonal trust influence patients’ choices between formal and informal medical systems. Medical care information, as a prerequisite for patients’ decisions, flows differently within ethnic relationship networks and community social networks. Institutional and cultural norms collectively influence healthcare service behaviors and provide support for patients’ healthcare-seeking behavior.ConclusionThe adjustment of social medical policy should be guided by the advantages of the formal medical system and the informal medical system, so that the primary medical system can provide high-quality medical services for local residents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb09e4e22592412889114b1b24b3a5c2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb09e4e22592412889114b1b24b3a5c22025-08-20T03:47:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16273921627392Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural ChinaShu Wei0Haifeng Long1Yu Tian2College of Humanities and Social Development, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Humanities and Social Development, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, ChinaSchool of Public Affairs, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, ChinaBackgroundHealthcare-seeking behavior is a crucial foundation for improving the rational use of healthcare resources and enhancing community health. Existing studies have predominantly focused on quantitative analyses of healthcare-seeking choices and their determinants based on the Homo Economicus assumption, while neglecting the analysis of sociocultural processes underlying healthcare-seeking behavior.MethodsThis study employed participant observation and in-depth interviews to investigate thirty-two residents from ethnic minority rural areas, with selected typical cases subjected to focused discussion. Based on the theoretical perspective of social capital, this paper explores and analyzes the healthcare-seeking behavior and its underlying logic in ethnic minority rural areas.ResultsThe findings suggest that institutional trust and interpersonal trust influence patients’ choices between formal and informal medical systems. Medical care information, as a prerequisite for patients’ decisions, flows differently within ethnic relationship networks and community social networks. Institutional and cultural norms collectively influence healthcare service behaviors and provide support for patients’ healthcare-seeking behavior.ConclusionThe adjustment of social medical policy should be guided by the advantages of the formal medical system and the informal medical system, so that the primary medical system can provide high-quality medical services for local residents.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1627392/fullhealthcare-seeking behaviorsocial capitalphysician-patient trustethnic medicinesocial norms |
| spellingShingle | Shu Wei Haifeng Long Yu Tian Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China Frontiers in Public Health healthcare-seeking behavior social capital physician-patient trust ethnic medicine social norms |
| title | Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China |
| title_full | Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China |
| title_short | Factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents: a qualitative study in rural China |
| title_sort | factors influencing healthcare seeking behavior and its process analysis among ethnic minority residents a qualitative study in rural china |
| topic | healthcare-seeking behavior social capital physician-patient trust ethnic medicine social norms |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1627392/full |
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