Institute of Applied Arts, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan.
Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 17;17(10):3495. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103495.
Chronic diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and preventative screenings are the most effective way to reduce the risk of developing a chronic disease. However, many individuals do not take advantage of preventative screening services for chronic diseases, especially in rural areas. In this study, we investigated (1) the factors that affect people's willingness to participate in chronic disease screenings and (2) reasons why people have not undergone screening for a chronic disease in the past.
Study participants (aged 30-65 of years age; n = 204) included individuals from four areas in northern of Taiwan that are considered to have a high chronic disease risk. To identify factors that influence willingness to attend health screenings, data were collected by questionnaire.
Over 50% of participants (58.33%; n = 119) indicated that they were unaware of community-based screenings for chronic diseases offered by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, which is one of the top-rated medical centers in Taiwan. Factors that increase willingness to participate in health screenings for chronic diseases include: (1) the convenience of screening site locations; (2) affordability; and (3) other considerations related to healthcare providers and diagnostic facilities (e.g., reputation, degree of modernization, etc.). Conversely, factors that reduce willingness to participate in health screenings include: (1) a belief that one was currently healthy; (2) lack of time; (3) a belief that screening procedures were too complicated to understand; (4) physical pain or negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, embarrassment, pain, and discomfort and, (5) having had a negative experience during a previous health checkup.
Our findings demonstrate that health attitudes, sociodemographic factors, and other motivating and preventative factors affect peoples' willingness to participate in health screenings. The motivating factors and barriers for people to participate in health screening for chronic diseases are very heterogeneous. However, understanding the barriers and motivating factors to health screening would mean that interventions with the purpose of decreasing people's health risks and reducing deaths and disabilities caused by a chronic illness could be implemented.
慢性病是全球发病率和死亡率的主要原因，而预防筛查是降低慢性病发病风险的最有效方法。然而，许多人没有利用慢性病预防筛查服务，特别是在农村地区。在这项研究中，我们调查了（1）影响人们参与慢性病筛查意愿的因素，以及（2）过去未进行慢性病筛查的原因。
研究参与者（年龄 30-65 岁；n=204）包括来自台湾北部四个被认为慢性病风险较高地区的个体。为了确定影响参加健康筛查意愿的因素，通过问卷调查收集数据。
超过 50%的参与者（58.33%；n=119）表示他们不知道长庚纪念医院提供的社区慢性病筛查，长庚纪念医院是台湾顶尖医疗中心之一。增加参与慢性病健康筛查意愿的因素包括：（1）筛查地点的便利性；（2）可负担性；（3）与医疗服务提供者和诊断设施相关的其他考虑因素（例如声誉、现代化程度等）。相反，降低参与健康筛查意愿的因素包括：（1）认为自己目前健康；（2）时间不足；（3）认为筛查程序过于复杂而难以理解；（4）身体疼痛或负面情绪，如恐惧、焦虑、尴尬、疼痛和不适；（5）在之前的健康检查中有过负面经历。
我们的研究结果表明，健康态度、社会人口学因素以及其他激励和预防因素会影响人们参与健康筛查的意愿。人们参与慢性病健康筛查的激励因素和障碍非常多样化。然而，了解健康筛查的障碍和激励因素意味着可以实施干预措施，以降低人们的健康风险，减少慢性病导致的死亡和残疾。
