ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY

College of Nursing

Naga City

HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF AN OLDER ADULT IN MILAOR, CAMARINES

SUR: A GENDER-BASED COMPARISON

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Nursing of

Ateneo de Naga University

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the course RESM325

degree of

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Submitted by:

JUSTINIANO, Nicole

NAVEA, Charmae

TEROL, Cristal Jade

May 2020
 CHAPTER I

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Health is said to be being in an optimal and well state of

being in all aspects may it be emotionally, physically,

psychologically, and even spiritually. Being in a well state of

mind and well-being does not only make humans “healthy” but this

also asserts a person’s health and this also makes a big impact

on a person’s perception about life. Health is not just an

objective for living but it is a resource for every day survival

with one’s personal, physical and social capacities.

All of us aim for the goal of being well, and as people

vary, we all have our own health seeking behaviors. A health

seeking behavior, as defined by the National Biotechnology

Information Center is said to be “any action or inaction

undertaken by individuals who perceive themselves to have a

health problem or to be ill for the purpose of finding an

appropriate remedy”, with that being said, a person with a health

seeking behavior goes through all means – if willing, to find the

right and appropriate remediation to resolve their problems

concerning their health.

The older adult is considered as one of the populations of

the world that grows in an unprecedented rate. According to the

National Institute of Health, 8.5 percent of people worldwide

(617 million) are aged 65 and over, meaning the demand for

geriatric care increases. In the Philippines, 3.83 percent of

the population is comprised of older adults (Philippine

Statistics Authority). The Department of health issued programs

for the elderly including the RA 9257 or The Expanded Senior

Citizen Act of 2003 and the RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior

Citizen Act of 2010. These programs aims to “promote the health

and wellness of senior citizens as well as to alleviate the

conditions of older persons who are encountering degenerative

diseases.” These programs have aid the Older Adults regarding

their basic needs, including hospitalization. Geriatrics is a

branch of medicine or social science that deals with the health

and care of the old people (Oxford Dictionary).

Older people are a rapidly growing proportion of the

world’s population, as said by NIA Director Richard J. Hodes,

M.D. People are living longer, but that does not necessarily mean

that they are living healthier. The elderly people need a lot of

attention regarding their health because they are more vulnerable

to every kind of diseases. Individuals have different opinions

regarding willingness to seek help from health care providers.

Some go readily for treatment but others go when they are in a

great pain. Some have problems regarding the distance of a health

facility and also poverty, that’s why they trust in the power of

herbal medicine whenever they are ill. This is true with regards
to older people who have faced many psychological changes that

act as a barrier for them.

Focusing on geriatrics, or the older adult, some but not

all have health seeking behaviors. Among geriatrics, many of them

seek medical advice and practices from “faith healers”, thinking

that they are more effective in treating illnesses rather than

licensed medical practitioners. The role of witch doctors has

played a big part in the older generation’s beliefs, and this has

made a huge impact most especially among the old Filipino

generations that families have passed on this practice that still

lives up until today.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study portrays the varying health seeking behaviors

between male and female older adult residents in the municipality

Of Milaor, Camarines Sur.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following

questions:

1. What are the different health-seeking behaviors of a

male and a female older adults?

2. What gender has the most effective health-seeking

behavior?

3. How will the study affect the community, especially the

older adult with regards to their health-seeking behavior?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The researchers conducted this study for the benefit of the

following:

Residents of Milaor. The result of this study will provide the

residents of Milaor the knowledge with regards to seeking health

for health optimization and this will also serve as influence on

their choices or decision-making towards enhancing their health.

Barangay Health Centers. The result of this study will benefit

barangay health centers by making this study as reference for

future uses for health projects in Milaor.

City Health Office. The result of this study will benefit the

city health office also as future reference for health-related

projects in the municipality of Milaor.

Nursing Students. This research will help future and existing

nursing students by being a basis or reference if they would also

be conducting researches or activities in the municipality of

Milaor.

College of Nursing. The College of Nursing in Ateneo de Naga

University will benefit from this study by serving as an

additional reference that would help not only nursing students

but also other students from other courses for this research

would be readily available in the University Library.

Future Researchers. This study will benefit future researchers

that would be conducting future studies that would involve the

municipality of Milaor or simply by needing to use this research

as comparison to a similar study but in a different area.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The criteria for the respondents included in the study are

the following: 60 years old and above and are residents of

Milaor, Camarines Sur.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

According to the study of Moses K. Muriithi , (explain)

DEFINITION OF TERMS

To help a better understanding of this study, the following

term are defined conceptually and operationally for a thorough

understanding on how these terms was used in the study.

Geriatric - refers to medical care for older adults that are >65

years in age.

Health - state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Wellness - an active process of becoming aware of and making

choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

Health-seeking behavior - any activity undertaken by individuals

who perceive themselves to have a health problem or to be ill for

the purpose of finding an appropriate remedy.

Faith-healer - a person who cures sick people by using the power

of prayer and belief.

Medical practitioner - a person who has a license and is engaged

in the practice of medicine.

CHAPTER III

FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This section analyzes the conceptual framework that was

utilized in the study.

 One’s own perception on how he/she manages his/her illness

greatly affects his/her goal in in achieving wellness. Some use

different methods that enhances health, excluding seeking health

from a medical practitioner or a medical facility. The diagram

shown above shows the interconnection between three (3)

variables.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK