title: Factors influencing consumer purchase decisions for health-promoting goods and services in malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the context of global increases in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, the objective of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting individuals' decisions to use health-promoting goods and services.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III), consisting of 30992 respondents, was analysed. The Pearson chi-square test was applied to compare the distribution of categorical variables. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the likelihood of using health-promoting goods and services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, income, gender, ethnicity, education, marital status, location of residence, job characteristics, and being diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with use of health-promoting goods and services. In contrast, young individuals, low income earners, males, Indians and others, the less-educated, single individuals, rural dwellers, the unemployed and individuals with hypercholesterolemia were less likely to use health-promoting goods and services than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socio-demographic and health factors played an important role in affecting the use of health-promoting goods and services. Based on these factors, several intervention measures with the intent of increasing the use of health-promoting goods and services were suggested, if only applicable to Malaysians.
authors.affiliation: School of Economics, Finance and Banking, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yong Kang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cheah
keywords: demography; disease; expenditure; health promotion; lifestyle