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Help-seeking Behaviour (help-seeking + behaviour)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	95%

Selected Abstracts

Help-seeking behaviour in patients with anxiety disorder and depression

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2005
A. Roness
Objective:, The objective of this study was to investigate help-seeking behaviour among persons with anxiety disorder and depression based on self-rating in a Norwegian population (the HUNT study). Method:, Of the 92 100 inhabitants aged 20,89 years invited, 65 648 (71.3%) took part. Among them 60 869 (66.1%) persons delivered valid ratings on hospital anxiety and depression scale, and had answered the requested help for mental problems question. Results:, Among HUNT attenders 13% of those with depression and 25% with anxiety disorders had been help seekers. Help seeking was only non-significantly associated with demographic or other variables. Conclusion:, Most persons with anxiety disorder and/or depression in the population had not sought help for their mental disorders, but the disparity between use and need of health service must not be overassessed. Improvement of the help-seeking rate for common mental disorder should have high priority in mental health politics. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour in patients with lymphoma

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 4 2008
D.A. HOWELL
Reducing cancer mortality is a priority for the UK Government and emphasis has been placed on introducing targets to ensure prompt diagnosis. Help seeking is the first step on the pathway to diagnosis and should occur promptly; however, patients with lymphoma take longer to seek help for symptoms than those with many other cancers. Despite this, the help seeking behaviour of these patients has not been investigated. This qualitative study examined the beliefs and actions about help seeking among 32 patients, aged 65 and over and newly diagnosed with lymphoma in West Yorkshire during 2000. Patients reported an extremely wide range of symptoms which were not always interpreted as serious or potentially caused by cancer. This, in association with a clear lack of knowledge about lymphoma, often led to help seeking being deferred. The range and characteristics of symptoms can largely be explained in terms of variations in the type, site and size of the lymphoma. The UK Government targets focus on the time after help seeking, yet for lymphoma it is also crucial to reduce the time taken to seek help. More education about the potential symptoms of this disease is needed among the general public. [source]

Stroke education: discrepancies among factors influencing prehospital delay and stroke knowledge

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Issue 3 2010
Yvonne Teuschl
Background Time is essential for the treatment of acute stroke. Much time is lost outside the hospital, either due to failure in identifying stroke symptoms or due to a delay in notification or transport. We review studies reporting factors associated with better stroke knowledge and shorter time delays. We summarise the evidences for the effect of stroke knowledge and education on people's reaction in the acute situation of stroke. Methods We searched MEDLINE for studies reporting factors associated with prehospital time of stroke patients, or knowledge of stroke symptoms. Further, we searched for studies reporting educational interventions aimed at increasing stroke symptom knowledge in the population. Findings We included a total of 182 studies. Surprisingly, those factors associated with better stroke knowledge such as education and sociodemographic variables were not related to shorter time delays. Few studies report shorter time delays or better stroke knowledge in persons having suffered a previous stroke. Factors associated with shorter time delays were more severe stroke and symptoms regarded as serious, but not better knowledge about the most frequent symptoms such as hemiparesis or disorders of speech. Only 25,56% of patients recognised their own symptoms as stroke. While stroke education increases the knowledge of warning signs, a few population studies measured the impact of education on time delays; in such studies, time delays decreased after education. This may partly be mediated by better organisation of EMS and hospitals. Interpretation There is a discrepancy between theoretical stroke knowledge and the reaction in an acute situation. Help-seeking behaviour is more dependent on the perceived severity of symptoms than on symptom knowledge. Bystanders play an important role in the decision to call for help and should be included in stroke education. Education is effective and should be culturally adapted and presented in a social context. It is unclear which educational concept is best suited to enhance symptom recognition in the acute situation of stroke, especially in view of discrepancies between knowledge and action. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms: perceptions of patients and general practitioners

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
Jascha De Nooijer
The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of the relationship between knowledge and interpretation of symptoms, fear and trust on the one hand, and the decision to consult a general practitioner (GP) for cancer symptoms on the other. Qualitative interviews were used to evaluate the various factors. Twenty-three patients and ten GPs were interviewed. A number of factors were found to play different roles for different patients groups, i.e. patients that consult their doctor prematurely, at the right time, or those that delay. A lot of the findings can be tested using various concepts of socio-psychological theory. Further research should provide an improved understanding of the way these models can be applied to help-seeking behaviour. In terms of implications for health education, we conclude that each patient group has different needs and requires different information. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour of hearing-impaired people aged 55 years and older: effect of complaints, significant others and hearing aid image

CLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
J.A. Duijvestijn
Objective. To determine the factors influencing help-seeking behaviour in hearing impaired people aged 55 years and older. Materials and methods. The study comprised 1419 car drivers (480 women, 939 men) aged 55 years and older. Pure tone audiometry was performed. Participants without a hearing aid, with an averaged hearing loss of , 30 dB over the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, were asked about their hearing by means of a structured questionnaire. Results. Thirty-four per cent of the participants had a hearing loss exceeding 30 dB. Twenty-three per cent of these hearing impaired patients visited their GP with complaints of hearing loss and 25% already possessed a hearing aid. Of the 113 patients without hearing aids, 83% judged their hearing ,poor' or ,bad', 73,5% felt social pressure and 48% thought a hearing aid might help. Fifty-five per cent of hearing impaired individuals who did not visit their GP had hearing complaints and did not express a good hearing aid image. Social pressure by significant others was perceived less in this group compared to those visiting their GP. Conclusion. Help-seeking behaviour of hearing impaired elderly people depends on their hearing complaints, on hearing aid image and on social pressure by significant others. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour in patients with anxiety disorder and depression

Help-seeking among Korean American women with urinary incontinence

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2009
Youngmi Kang
ABSTRACT Background: Despite the availability of effective treatments, many women manage their urinary incontinence (UI) silently rather than seeking professional help. Delays in seeking help in effectively managing UI can lead to a worsening of the incontinence and in overall quality of life. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the help-seeking behaviour (HSB) among Korean American women with UI. The following research question guied this study: is there any difference in HSB for UI according to severity of UI among Korean American woment with UI?. Methods: 149 community-dwelling Korean American women who are age 30 years and older and self-identified as being incontinent were invited to particpate in the study. Data collection was conducted in 12 Korean religious organizations. This study uses a correlation descriptive design by means of interviews. The HSB scale was used to measure the propensity ot help-seeking. Results: This study showed that the propensity of seeking help among Korean American women was lower than that of general population. It indicated that Korean women cope urinary symptoms nonmedical measures rather seeking professional help. The severity of UI is associated with help-seeking among Korean American women with UI. Conclusions: Health care providers need to be aware of low rates of seeking care among Korean women for this problem, and the need for further education in this area. [source]

Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2005
Paul M. Galdas BSc RN CertEd
Aim., This paper reviews the key research literature regarding men's health-related help seeking behaviour. Background., There is a growing body of research in the United States to suggest that men are less likely than women to seek help from health professionals for problems as diverse as depression, substance abuse, physical disabilities and stressful life events. Previous research has revealed that the principle health related issue facing men in the UK is their reluctance to seek access to health services. Method., The investigation of men's health-related help seeking behaviour has great potential for improving both men and women's lives and reducing national health costs through the development of responsive and effective interventions. A search of the literature was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library databases. Results., Studies comparing men and women are inadequate in explaining the processes involved in men's help seeking behaviour. However, the growing body of gender-specific studies highlights a trend of delayed help seeking when they become ill. A prominent theme among white middle class men implicates ,traditional masculine behaviour' as an explanation for delays in seeking help among men who experience illness. The reasons and processes behind this issue, however, have received limited attention. Conclusions., Principally, the role of masculine beliefs and the similarities and differences between men of differing background requires further attention, particularly given the health inequalities that exist between men of differing socio-economic status and ethnicity. Further research using heterogeneous samples is required in order to gain a greater understanding of the triggers and barriers associated with the decision making process of help seeking behaviour in men who experience illness. [source]

Awareness of early warning signs and help-seeking behaviours among patients with schizophrenia who utilize social rehabilitation facilities in Japan

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 8 2009
R. KOICHI rn phn ms
Accessible summary ,,Schizophrenia is characterized by the occurrence of psychotic relapses. When this happens, early warning signs such as delusions, hallucinations, thought incoherencies and serious chaotic behaviours occur. ,,In this study, 56.5% of participants who had a history at least one early help-seeking behaviour when they deteriorated was recognized from the following signs: sleep disorders, depression, hallucinations, nervousness, anxiety, fatigue, delusions, illusions and suicidal ideation. ,,Early help-seeking behaviours were related to the following factors: recognition of early warning signs during deterioration, consultation with non-professional and professional support persons during deterioration; consulting with public mental health workers; and living with family. Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between early warning signs (EWS) and early help-seeking behaviours (HSB) and to identify the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who sought early help. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2004 using a self-reported questionnaire. Participants were recruited from social rehabilitation facilities for the mentally ill; 224 subjects participated, 170 of whom had schizophrenia. The survey included questions about demographic characteristics, self-care behaviours (HSB, recognition of EWS and others) and current service utilization and satisfaction. Fisher's exact test and Student's t -test were used to compare the characteristics of study participants. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between recognition of EWS and early HSB. We found that 96 (56.5%) of 170 patients with schizophrenia reported at least one occasion of early HSB during their deterioration. Early HSB were related to the following factors: recognition of EWS, consultation with non-professional and professional support persons during deterioration, consulting with public mental health workers and living with family. Care and support should be offered to patients with schizophrenia to enable them to recognize their own mental deterioration. [source]

Irritable bowel syndrome is strongly associated with generalized anxiety disorder: a community study

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2009
S. LEE
Summary Background, No previous study has examined the comorbidity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in a general population using standardized diagnostic methods. Aim, To examine the prevalence, comorbidity and risk correlates of IBS and GAD in a general population. Methods, A random community-based telephone survey was conducted. The questionnaire covered symptoms of IBS, GAD, core depressive symptoms, help-seeking behaviour and functional impairment on the Sheehan Disability Scale. Results, A total of 2005 participants completed the interview. The current prevalence of IBS was 5.4% and the 12-month prevalence of GAD was 4%. GAD was five times more common among IBS respondents than non-IBS respondents (OR: 5.84, P < 0.001), whereas IBS was 4.7 times more common among GAD respondents than among non-GAD respondents (OR: 6.32, P < 0.001). Core depressive symptoms (OR: 6.25, P < 0.01) and education level (OR: 5.918, P = 0.021) were risk correlates of GAD among IBS respondents. Comorbid respondents were more impaired than respondents having either disorder alone, but were not more likely to seek professional help than IBS-only respondents. Conclusion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and GAD comorbidity was common and added to impairment in the community. The strong association between psychiatric morbidity and IBS observed in referral centres was not a consequence of increased help-seeking behaviour. [source]

Patient delay in oral cancer: a qualitative study of patients' experiences

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
S.E. Scott
Abstract Up to 30% of patients delay seeking the advice of a healthcare professional after self-discovery of symptom(s) of oral cancer. Reasons for this patient delay are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to explore patients' initial experiences and reactions to developing symptoms of oral cancer, and to identify factors influencing their decision to consult a health care professional. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 consecutive patients who had received a diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma, but had yet to start treatment. Participants were asked about their beliefs about their symptoms over the course of the disease and their decision to seek help. The tape-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using ,Framework analysis'. Oral symptoms were rarely attributed to cancer and were frequently interpreted as minor oral conditions. As a result of these beliefs, patients tended to postpone seeking help or fail to be concerned over their symptoms. Prior to seeking help, patients responded to symptoms by using self-medication, changing the way they ate and disclosing their discovery of symptoms to friends or family. Problems with access to healthcare professionals and patients' social responsibilities acted as barriers to prompt help-seeking. This study has documented that an individual's interpretation of oral cancer symptoms may be misguided and this can adversely affect subsequent help-seeking behaviour. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms: perceptions of patients and general practitioners

Stress and help-seeking for drought-stricken citrus growers in the Riverland of South Australia

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2009
Alice K. Staniford
Abstract Objective:,To explore the psychological impact of a problematic industrial climate for citrus growers, their help-seeking behaviour and perspectives on ways to encourage better use of rural mental health services. Design:,Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. Setting:,The Riverland of South Australia. Participants:,Sixteen citrus growers (12 male, 4 female) from eight Riverland towns. Main outcome measures:,Citrus growers' perceived factors relating to psychological stress, coping behaviours, impact of stress on well-being, help-seeking behaviours, barriers to help-seeking and ways to encourage better use of rural mental health services. Results:,Work-related stresses grouped under broad themes, including ,Uncontrollable events', ,Financial hardship' and ,Pressure', had negative effects on participants' well-being. Furthermore, it was found that significant difficulties arise because many of the stresses which growers endure are not controllable, and that the alleviation of strain with the help of mental health professionals is uncommon because of barriers preventing help-seeking. Five broad themes of barriers to help-seeking were extracted from the data: ,Self-reliance', ,Social image', ,Lack of knowledge', ,Negative perceptions of health professionals' efficacy' and ,Restrictive lifestyle factors'. A specialised model of occupational health for citrus growers was proposed. Conclusions:,These results highlight the practical need to address the identified issues in delivery and promotion of health services when facilitating help-seeking within this group. The findings also add to our knowledge of occupational health psychology broadly. [source]

A population study of nocturia in Singapore

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006
LEWIS C.H. LIEW
OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of nocturia in the multiracial Asian population of Singapore, using the new International Continence Society standardized definition of one or more voids per night, and to assess its associations, bothersomeness and impact on sleep. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A door-to-door interview questionnaire survey was conducted amongst a randomly selected sample of 3000 individuals (response rate 78.2%). Nocturia and its associated problems were evaluated using questions from the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and concurrently, sociodemographic and health variables were recorded. RESULTS Data from 1134 women (aged 20,95 years) and 1139 men (aged 20,92 years) were analysed; the overall prevalence of nocturia (one or more voids/night) was 55.5%, with an increasing proportion in older groups (P < 0.01). Women had nocturia significantly (P = 0.015) more often than men (58% vs 53%), and it was positively associated with poor health, with the highest odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for diabetes mellitus of 2.0 (1.3,3.1), for renal disease of 6.4 (2.3,18.2), and for strokes of 3.1 (1.1,9.2). In both men and women, the median IPSS in patients with nocturia was significantly higher than that in patients without nocturia (P < 0.001). For individuals waking once a night, only 9.5% considered nocturia a problem and 13.5% complained of sleep disturbances; these values increased to 36% and 40% for individuals waking up twice or more /night. CONCLUSION Nocturia is a common condition amongst Singaporean adults, especially in the elderly; it has strong associations with poor health and other lower urinary tract symptoms. The degree of nocturia determines whether patients are likely to be bothered by it or have sleep disturbance, which will influence their help-seeking behaviour. [source]

Computer Use and Attitudes Towards Computerised Therapy Amongst Young People and Parents Attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2010
Paul Stallard
Background:, There has been little research examining attitudes towards computerised therapy in young people. Method:, A self-report survey of 37 young people and 31 parents using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Results:, Young people reported high levels of computer usage and online help-seeking behaviour. Young people were cautious about computerised therapy whereas parents were more positive, identifying more benefits than concerns. Conclusions:, Mental health professionals need to be aware of young people's online help-seeking behaviour in order to correct inaccuracies and maximise uptake of computerised therapy. [source]

Help-seeking behaviour of hearing-impaired people aged 55 years and older: effect of complaints, significant others and hearing aid image

Awareness of early warning signs and help-seeking behaviours among patients with schizophrenia who utilize social rehabilitation facilities in Japan

Oral and general health behaviours among Chinese urban adolescents

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Poul Erik Petersen
Abstract,,, Objectives:, The objectives of this study were to measure the association of general and oral health-related behaviours with living conditions and to explore the interrelationships between general and oral health-related behaviours in Chinese urban adolescents. Methods:, A cross-sectional survey of 2662 adolescents was conducted in eight Chinese provincial capitals. The response rate was 92%. The study population was selected through multistage cluster sampling and comprised three age groups: 11, 13 and 15 years. Data on oral and general health, lifestyles as well as living conditions were collected by means of self-administered structured questionnaires. Several additive indices were constructed from answers to the questions on specific behaviour, and participants were categorized according to scores on each component of health-related behaviour for statistical analyses by frequency distributions, regression analyses and factor analyses. Results:, Oral health-related behaviours among adolescents were associated with socioeconomic status of parents, school performance and peer relationships. The odds of a dental visit was 0.63 in adolescents of poorly educated parents and the corresponding figure for regular oral hygiene practices was 0.62. Odds of tobacco use was 3 for adolescents with poor performance in school while odds of consuming sugary foods/drinks was 1.3. Adolescents with high levels of preventive oral health practices also demonstrated general health-promoting behaviours. In factor analysis of general and oral health-related behaviours, three factors were isolated: (a) risk behaviours (loadings 0.48,0.66), (b) health-promoting behaviours (loadings 0.60,0.64) and (c) help-seeking behaviours (loadings 0.56,0.67). Conclusion:, The findings support a multidimensional model of health behaviour. Several approaches and multiple methods should be applied in oral health education in order to modify behaviours that affect oral health. [source]