Abstract：
Treatment-seeking behavior (TSB) in relation to dengue infection is a critical aspect of public health, and understanding the factors that influence it is crucial for effective disease management. This research delves into key determinants of dengue TSB by examining the perceptions and behaviors of individuals in Costa Rica, in relation to the Health Belief Model (HBM). This study utilized naturalistic inquiry and incorporated a qualitative research design involving nine students organized into four teams, with at least one student on each team with high Spanish fluency. In total, we initiated 102 semi-structured field interviews with Costa Rican residents in four communities. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded in several cycles using MAXQDA 2022©. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes using an inductive approach. We found that several HBM themes influenced dengue TSB among participants. Self-treatment was the most common initial step in managing dengue. Perceived inaccessibility of health care services and perceived ineffective treatment options discouraged medical care-seeking. Ultimately, the prevalence of self-treatment practices suggests a need for interventions that emphasize the importance of timely professional medical attention, while addressing real barriers and perceptions of existing health care services as inaccessible and ineffective. These findings provide a key perspective on dengue TSB, guiding future public health strategies aimed at optimizing health-seeking behaviors and mitigating the negative impacts of dengue on population health.
摘要：
与登革热感染有关的寻求治疗行为（TSB）是公共卫生的重要方面，了解影响它的因素对于有效的疾病管理至关重要。本研究通过研究哥斯达黎加个体的感知和行为，深入研究登革热TSB的关键决定因素，关于健康信念模型(HBM)。这项研究利用了自然主义的探究，并纳入了一个定性的研究设计，其中包括9名学生组成的四个团队，每个团队至少有一名学生，西班牙语流利程度很高。总的来说,我们对四个社区的哥斯达黎加居民进行了102次半结构化实地访谈。采访被记录下来，逐字转录，并使用MAXQDA2022©在几个周期中编码。主题分析用于使用归纳法确定模式和主题。我们发现几个HBM主题影响了参与者中的登革热TSB。自我治疗是治疗登革热最常见的第一步。认为无法获得医疗保健服务和认为无效的治疗方案阻碍了寻求医疗服务。最终,自我治疗实践的流行表明需要采取干预措施，强调及时专业医疗护理的重要性，同时解决实际障碍和对现有医疗保健服务难以获得和无效的看法。这些发现为登革热TSB提供了一个关键的视角，指导未来的公共卫生战略，旨在优化寻求健康的行为，减轻登革热对人群健康的负面影响。
