Aim: To assess the factors defining healthcare-seeking behavior of people with musculoskeletal pain in the urban community of Malang City, East Java, Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia. In total, 2067 participants aged 16-93 years were interviewed. The sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors of healthcare seeking behavior, musculoskeletal pain, disability, and adverse drug reactions were assessed using the validated Indonesian version of Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Disease (COPCORD) protocol by International League of Associations for Rheumatology and the World Health Organization core questionnaire. Chi-square test was applied to assess the determinants of health-seeking behavior for musculoskeletal pain.

Results: Slightly more than one-third of the respondents (36%) with musculoskeletal pain, described as osteoarthritis, low back pain, gouty arthritis, soft tissue rheumatism, and autoimmune arthritis, were assessed for their health-seeking behavior. About 73% of all those participants sought treatment for their musculoskeletal symptoms. Treatment modality used was modern healthcare, traditional healthcare, self-treatment using traditional medication, self-treatment using modern medication with the proportions of 20.94%, 25.23%, 33.95%, 25.77%, respectively. Disability significantly affected health-seeking behavior as the major determinant (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.087, 95% CI 1.031-1.146, P = 0.002), followed by age (PR 1.043, 95% CI 1.000-1.087, P = 0.049). Healthcare-seeking behavior was associated with the presence of adverse drug reactions (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Factors associated with musculoskeletal pain health-seeking behavior were disability and age. Self and traditional healthcare treatment were further associated with an adverse drug reaction.