Exploring smokers' perspectives on health status and health seeking behavior: a qualitative exploration

Ismail, Muhamad Al-Muizz and Mohamad Shariff, Nurasikin and Nurumal, Mohd Said and Abdul Rahman, Razlina and Mohd Mokhtar, Hanida Hani (2024) Exploring smokers' perspectives on health status and health seeking behavior: a qualitative exploration. Journal of Health Science and Medical Research. ISSN 2586-9981 E-ISSN 2630-0559

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Abstract

Objective: Smokers might tend to ignore when communicating about smoking health risks. We used Bourdieu’s conceptual tool to guide and explore their perception of being healthy despite their smoking behavior and their health seeking practice. Material and Methods: A qualitative method, using a semi-structured interview as the main method of collecting the data, was used. This method was implemented because of its flexibility in the exploration, based on participant responses. Results: The findings are reported as per the thematic analysis of 15 purposively selected participants. The ages of the 15 participants varied from 20 to 55 years old, and they were selected from the quantitative study to participate voluntarily in this qualitative exploration. Among them, 14 were males and one was female. The ethnic representation in this qualitative part were Malays (n=14) and Chinese (n=1). The duration of smoking varied in the sample, with the majority smoking for more than five years. Conclusion: This study better understands smokers’ health perception and their health-seeking behavior. Firstly, the perception of the less harmful effects of smoking on the health of smokers was understood within the views of Bourdieu’s Theory of Cultural Health Capital, which, in turn poses challenges to smoking cessation programs and campaigns. This study reported that smokers perceived themselves as healthy, and thus continued their smoking habit despite knowing its side effects.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	health-seeking behaviour; health status; smoking effect; smokers’ perception
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA644.3 Chronic and Noninfectious Diseases and Public Health R Medicine > RT Nursing
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Nursing Kulliyyah of Nursing > Department of Medical Surgical Nursing Kulliyyah of Nursing > Department of Special Care Nursing
Depositing User:	Dr. Hanida Hani Mohd Mokhtar
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2024 15:33
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2024 15:34
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/114500

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