Document Detail


Group differences in outpatient help-seeking for psychological distress: results from a national prospective study of Icelanders.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20064916     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIMS: This study focused on group differences in health care use for psychological distress. Specifically, the study examined if some subgroups and kinds of distress predicted use of particular providers. METHODS: The study uses data from a repeated national postal health survey of a random sample of Icelanders aged 18-75. Response rate at the first wave was 69% (n = 1924), and 83% of the participants from the first wave also responded to the second. The dependent variables referred to use of outpatient visits to different types of professionals (doctor, psychiatrist, registered nurse, psychologist, social worker, clergy, and complementary and alternative medicine provider). RESULTS: Gender, age, marital status, residence, education and income affected the selection of healthcare provider. Significant interactions indicated, among other things, that divorced people made the most visits to psychiatrists when depressed, that urban residents visited psychiatrists and psychologists more than others when experiencing anxiety, that the university-educated visited psychologists more when depressed, and that individuals with higher incomes visited psychiatrists, nurses and social workers less when experiencing anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate considerable group variations in help-seeking. The group in question and the nature of symptoms affected the decision where to seek help. A substantial number of distressed individuals do not seek any professional help, and there are indications of inequity in the distribution of health services. Further studies are needed to better understand the complex social selection processes involved in seeking help for psychological problems.
Authors:
Gudrun Gudmundsdottir; Runar Vilhjalmsson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2010-01-11
Journal Detail:
Title:  Scandinavian journal of public health     Volume:  38     ISSN:  1651-1905     ISO Abbreviation:  Scand J Public Health     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-23     Completed Date:  2010-03-11     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883503     Medline TA:  Scand J Public Health     Country:  Sweden    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  160-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
The Public Health Institute, Laugavegur 116, Reykjavik, Iceland.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Anxiety / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  therapy
Depression / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  therapy
Female
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Iceland / epidemiology
Male
Mental Disorders* / diagnosis,  epidemiology,  therapy
Mental Health Services / utilization*
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
Prospective Studies
Questionnaires
Socioeconomic Factors
Young Adult

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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