Exploring factors contributing to patient decision-making in the care journey to elective hernia care in Kenya.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Capacity for elective general surgical care is an important reflection of a health system's ability to meet a population's surgical needs and is currently known to be inadequate in many low- and middle-income countries. Patient agency is a key, understudied factor which shapes how and when patients ultimately decide to engage with formal care. Understanding factors which influence patient care seeking activity can have important implications for how current and future health systems may be utilized. This study aims to explore how patients approach the navigation and triage of their elective hernia condition within the Kenyan surgical care system.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study of 38 convenience-sampled patients diagnosed with an elective hernia condition

SUBMITTER: Li HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12633918 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature