Abstract

The degree of influence of traditional beliefs and practices of a person as part of his or her cultural background is indeed a creative molder of a person’s behavior such as attitudes, beliefs and practices regarding health promotion and prevention of illness. This study determined the correlation between health beliefs and practices and the compliance with discharge instructions, particularly on home medications and out-patient referral by patients in selected hospitals in Sogod, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Health beliefs and practices were categorized as traditional, scientific and parochial. Utilizing a correlational design, thirty respondents were selected by purposive sampling technique. A researcher-made interview schedule was utilized. The compliance behavior of the respondents on medications showed that majority of the respondents was highly and moderately compliant while compliance with out-patient referral showed that majority have poor compliance. Majority of the health beliefs most frequently identified were scientific while practices were mostly parochial. There was no significant relationship between health beliefs and practices with medication compliance. Significant correlations were shown between health beliefs and practices and out-patient referral compliance. Reasons for non-compliance for medications include financial constraints and forgetfulness while on out-patient referral, respondents did not comply the follow-up consultation, since they do not feel any symptoms anymore or went to a faith healer for further management. It is concluded that health beliefs and practices do not influence compliance of medication since it is basically a consideration of individual’s budgetary capacity. It is further concluded that health beliefs and practices significantly influence out-patient referral compliance since it is affected more on behavioral attributes.

Key words: Traditional beliefs, behavior, practices, out-patient.