| The purpose of this research is to analyse how help seeking behavior developed among chronic renal failure patients and to examine which factors are contributing to their help seeking behavior based on the Health Belief Model approach. It is also the aim of this research to examine the role of communication between doctors and their patient in building a right perception and interpretation about hemodialysis. Three patients from Atma Jaya Hospital - one female patient at her late thirthies (36 yr), and two male patients ( 35 and 63 yrs) - who were delaying their initial hemodialysis treatment prior to their routine hemodialysis took a part in this research. A qualitative research approach was used to explain their help seeking behavior, whereperceived susceptibility and perceived severity were taken into account, as well as how perceived benefits were seen by those participants. Health motivation was not significant to start the hemodialysis process whereas perceived barriers causing the delay of treatment were myths, environment influences, cultureand the role of significant others. It was also found that doctors who developed good communication patterns with patients could motivated their patients to underwent the hemodialysis treatment. Communication between doctors and patients is therefore a significant factor of cues to action among the three patients. |