scholarly journals “Why not ask the doctor?” Barriers in help-seeking for sexual problems among older adults in Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 1507-1515
Author(s):  
Gabriela Gore-Gorszewska
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sexual Functioning ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Sexual Problems ◽  
Psychological Help ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Seeking Help

Abstract Objectives Existing data show that older adults rarely seek medical or psychological help for their sexual problems. The current study explores the barriers in help-seeking faced by older adults from a conservative Central European country. Methods Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted among Polish residents (16 women, 14 men) aged 65–82. The data were analysed thematically, with coding validity and analytical rigour ensured throughout the process. Results Three main barriers in seeking help were identified: not recognising sexual problems; fear for the doctors’ disapproval; lack of knowledge how to access appropriate services. The data reveal that the participants’ main concern is that health providers would dismiss their problems as trivial. Older adults from Poland suffer from the lack of fundamental knowledge about their sexual functioning. Conclusions Employing qualitative methodology to understand why older adults from conservative cultures do not seek help for their sexual problems might contribute to existing literature by providing evidence from different cultural settings, and help to develop and implement appropriate interventions. Implications related to health providers’ attitude towards older patients’ concerns are further discussed.

scholarly journals I’m not Alone: A Phenomenological Study of Psychological Help Sources in Suicide Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
F A Nurdiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Psychological Help ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Seeking Psychological Help

This research was conducted to explore the experiences of suicidal survivors in seeking psychological help for their crisis. A descriptive phenomenological study was chosen to get the dynamics of mental health help-seeking. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth participants who had previously experienced a suicide crisis. Seven participants (5 women; mean age 26 years-old) were involved voluntarily through the snowball technique recruitment. Descriptive phenomenological analysis was applied to get the synthesis and meaning of experiences in psychological help-seeking. This study found psychological help sources: self-help, close relationships, socio-cultural, and institutional. This article highlighted that social relations played a crucial role in the success of seeking help. Suicide prevention should be carried out by campaigning for self-disclosure to seeking help by utilizing various available psychological help sources.

What Makes an Educational Augmented Reality Application Good?

2021 ◽  
pp. 124-142
Author(s):  
Mustafa Fidan
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Augmented Reality Application ◽  
Teaching Learning

In recent years, teachers have started to integrate augmented reality (AR) technology as a potential learning tool into classroom activities. The main concern is the quality of the existing applications rather than brand-newness. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the components of a good educational AR application based on the experiences of teachers and to examine the current situation on the integration of AR to learning environments. Qualitative methodology was used in this study. The sample consisted of 24 teachers working in public schools in Turkey. The data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed through the thematic analysis. The results showed that the components of a good AR application in education were gathered under four main themes: “analysis process,” “design process,” “teaching-learning process,” and “evaluation components.” Implications for the design and use of the AR applications in educational settings were also included in the study.

scholarly journals Exploring the Processes Involved in Seeking Help from a General Practitioner for Young People Who Have Been at Risk of Suicide

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2120
Author(s):  
Jack Farr ◽  
Andrew D. R. Surtees ◽  
Hollie Richardson ◽  
Maria Michail
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Informal Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Gp Training

General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the early identification and management of suicide risk in young people. However, little is known about the processes involved in how, when and why a young person decides to seek help from their GP. Eight young people, aged 17–23, took part in semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences of help seeking when feeling suicidal. Data were analysed using framework analysis. The analysis identified three main themes and seven subthemes. The main themes explored were: understanding when to seek help from a GP, barriers and facilitating factors at the GP consultation, and help seeking as a non-linear and dynamic process. The processes involved in how, when and why young people seek help from a GP when feeling suicidal were found to be dynamic and to fluctuate over time. Help seeking was initially related to how young people were able to understand and articulate their distress, the availability of informal support networks, and their perception of the GP as a source of help. During a GP consultation, help seeking was influenced by how safe and supported the young people felt. Perceived GP training, communication and validation of young people’s concerns were important factors to help facilitate this process. Subsequent help seeking was influenced by prior experience of GP consultations and the availability of alternative support.

scholarly journals Communication and Control in the Co-construction of Depression: Women's Accounts of Their Interactions with Health Practitioners

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronnie Egan ◽  
Heather Gridley ◽  
Bernadette Hood ◽  
Christine Brew
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Communication Processes ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Power And Powerlessness ◽  
And Control

Issues of communication and control have been implicated in the evolution of mental health problems, the process of seeking help and the outcomes of this process. This paper explores control and communication processes in the course of women's help seeking for depression. Although depression rates are consistently higher for women than for men, there is little information on women's experiences of seeking support or treatment. Feminist theory and research highlight the centrality of power and control for women's health and wellbeing, but examination of mechanisms mediating power and powerlessness within treatment contexts is lacking. This study utilises a predominantly qualitative methodology to explore how 14 women diagnosed with depression describe interactions with health practitioners. Building on previous theoretical positions, we develop a framework to encompass the complexities of the women's accounts, providing insight into processes by which women and health practitioners co-construct healthcare interactions. The findings suggest that for these women, the commonly posited dichotomy between understandings of depression as either a biomedical or sociocultural construct was less salient than, and mediated by, issues of control and communication. Financial and systemic considerations emerged as contextual mediators of both the women's and health practitioners' degree of control in working towards improved health outcomes.

scholarly journals How do older adults understand and manage distress? A qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Moult ◽  
Tom Kingstone ◽  
Carolyn Chew-Graham
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Community Groups

Abstract Background Anxiety and depression are prevalent in older adults, however, older people may be reluctant to seek medical help and may manage their own mood problems. Due to stigma, older adults are more likely to perceive and/ or recognise their mood problems as distress. Whilst previous literature has focused on how younger adults self-manage mood problems, little research has explored how older people self-manage distress. The study reported here seeks to address this gap through qualitative methods. Methods This study was approved by Keele University’s ethical review panel. Older adults who self-identified as distressed, depressed or anxious within the previous 12 months were recruited from community groups in North Staffordshire, England. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically using constant comparison methods. A public and patient involvement and engagement group contributed to development of the research questions and methods, and offered their perspectives on the findings. Results Data saturation was achieved after 18 interviews. Key themes were: experiences of distress, actions taken, help-seeking from healthcare services and perceptions of treatments offered in primary care. Various forms of loss contributed to participants’ distress. Participants initiated their own self-management strategies which included: pursuing independent activities, seeking social support and attending community groups and church. Five participants reported having consulted a GP when distressed but described a lack of acceptable treatments offered. Conclusions To support older adults who are distressed, primary care healthcare professionals need to explore patients’ existing ways of managing mood problems, provide information about a range of management options and consider the use of sign-posting older adults to community resources.

scholarly journals Barriers to help-seeking for memory problems in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1027-1033
Author(s):  
Ann Pearman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Memory Concerns

Abstract Purpose Early detection of age- and disease-related cognitive problems affords patients the opportunities to receive medical treatment, engage in research, and plan for the future. Understanding help-seeking behavior has potential to aid both patients and clinicians. This study was designed to identify predictors of endorsed barriers to memory-related help-seeking as well as medical help-seeking endorsement. Methods This cross-sectional correlational study used a convenience sample of 97 older adults. The participants answered anonymous questionnaires about subjective memory, mood, and health and several items designed to investigate help-seeking for memory issues. Results Persons who endorsed multiple barriers to help-seeking were more likely to also endorse having hearing problems. In addition, participants who reported that they would not talk to a doctor or physician about memory concerns also had significantly worse subjective hearing. Conclusion Hearing loss may be a particular risk for not seeking help for memory problems. Physicians and healthcare agencies can work to design outreach for persons who experience barriers, such as hearing loss and the concomitant outcomes.

scholarly journals Seeking help for sexual difficulties: findings from a study with older adults in four European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharron Hinchliff ◽  
Ana Alexandra Carvalheira ◽  
Aleksandar Štulhofer ◽  
Erick Janssen ◽  
Gert Martin Hald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Sexual Difficulty

Abstract Sexual well-being is an important part of life for many people aged 60 and older. However, older adults often face barriers to seeking and receiving help for sexual difficulties. This study used data from a probability survey (n = 3820) on sexuality and ageing to examine help-seeking in 60–75-year-olds in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal. More men (12.2%) than women (6.8%) had sought professional help for a sexual difficulty in the past 5 years. The main reason for help-seeking was that sex was important to the participant and/or their relationship. The main source of professional help was the primary care physician. Of those who had sought professional help, 48% were satisfied or very satisfied with the help received, 31.6% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 20.4% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Others had sought help from informal sources, particularly partners, friends, or websites. The main reasons for not seeking professional help included not being distressed by the symptoms, and thinking that the difficulty would clear up on its own. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that significant correlates of seeking professional help for women and men were level of distress about the sexual difficulty. With regard to women, those who were married, and/or from Portugal were more likely to have sought help. And regarding men, those who attended religious services were more likely to have sought professional help. These results have important implications for healthcare and can be used to inform the development and delivery of services for older adults who experience sexual difficulties.

scholarly journals Caring for a Dying Partner: The Male Experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Judd ◽  
Helen Guy ◽  
Ruth A. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Conflicting Demands ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Male Experience

Objective: Caring for someone close who is dying, such as a spouse, is an emotive experience; however, there is little research examining the phenomenon of caregiving for a spouse at the end of life and of men’s experiences specifically. Existing literature suggests that men who are providing care are less likely to seek help than women, especially psychological and emotional support for themselves. The aim of the current study was to explore the lived experiences of men caring for a dying spouse or partner and their help-seeking for themselves during this time. Methods: Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with men caring for their partner, who was receiving palliative care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged from the data, “Illness Questions Everything,” “Constructing the Caring Role,” and “Help-Seeking at the Limit.” The arrival of a terminal illness into a partnership is traumatic, and while it can deepen relationships, it can also create distance. The carer role has conflicting demands and carers need to make sense of their experience in order for the carer role to be constructed as a source of purpose or meaning. Finally, the idea of seeking help for oneself as a carer during this time is seen as “incompatible,” unmanageable, and can only be considered if constructed as a “last resort.” Significance of Results: Men care too; however, they can feel confused by this role and unsure as to how this fits with their identity as a man. They make sense of this by identifying as a partner whose “duty” or “responsibility” is to provide care. Although this is an understandable stance, it puts them at risk of further emotional, psychological, and physiological difficulties if their own needs are not met. Men need to be supported during this time and their caring qualities need to be destigmatized and demystified so that they can feel more able to identify with the role and look after themselves while caring for their dying partner.

Barriers to seeking help among abused Iranian women

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 261-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakineh Taherkhani ◽  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar ◽  
Fazlollah Ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Abused Women ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Iranian Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Education And Employment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to seeking help among abused Iranian women. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative research was carried out using content analysis approach. The participants were 24 married women who were selected from health care centers, recreational centers, and two universities in Tehran, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Findings During data analysis, four themes emerged that explained barriers to seeking help in the participants: “fear of negative consequences of help-seeking,” “lack of resources,” “beliefs and attitudes,” and “indirect experiences of not being supported.” Originality/value This study has practice and policy implications for promoting help-seeking among abused women. Based on the results, to promote help-seeking, intervention plans must focus on empowering women to improve their education and employment, eliminating attitudes and beliefs hindering help-seeking, and fortifying formal and informal support systems for abused women.

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