scholarly journals Help-seeking by substance dependants presenting to healthcare professionals in the Free State Province

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
P M Van Zyl ◽  
C A Gagiano ◽  
W F Mollentze ◽  
J S Snyman ◽  
G Joubert
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Substance Dependence ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Free State ◽  
Free State Province ◽  
State Hospitals ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
Substance Dependent ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

<p><strong>Introduction.</strong> Current data regarding treatment needs in South Africa for substance dependence are based on admissions to specialised treatment centres. The data therefore do not include patients presenting to independent healthcare workers and state hospitals.</p><p><strong>Aim. </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate help-seeking behaviour for substance dependence disorders from the perspective of healthcare professionals at various levels of the referral chain in Free State Province. Design. A descriptive study was performed.</p><p><strong>Setting.</strong> Treatment environments in Free State Province accessible to substance-dependent persons. Participants. General practitioners, private psychiatrists, prescribing healthcare professionals at state hospitals and treatment centres, and non-prescribing therapists responsible for management of substance-dependent persons. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Measurements</strong>. A questionnaire was used to determine the level of help-seeking experienced by the participants regarding various classes of psycho-active substances.</p><p><strong>Findings.</strong> The presentation of alcohol, cannabis, opioid, benzodiazepine, ecstasy, cocaine and inhalant dependency at general practitioners, private psychiatrists, treatment centres and non-prescribing therapists was compared. Different patterns of help-seeking for substance dependence from the various professional groups were detected. Regarding alcohol dependence, 40.3% of private general medical practitioners reported being confronted with alcohol dependence at least once per month, compared with 100% of treatment centre representatives and private psychiatrists, 70.6% of state hospitals and 53.8% of non-prescribers. State hospitals reported the highest frequency for contact with cases of cannabis dependence, compared with the other professional groups, while psychiatrists reported the highest contact with cases involving benzodiazepine, cocaine and ecstasy. Therapists reported a higher level of contact with inhalant dependence, while this group virtually never presented at general practitioners and private psychiatrists.</p><p><strong>Conclusion.</strong> Help-seeking data can be used in conjunction with other data, such as treatment demand data, to inform and adapt policies and practice. Variations in the manifestation of help-seeking behaviour at various groups may be important pointers to conditions that influence help-seeking, and therefore should be investigated further.</p>

scholarly journals Anxiety, depression, health attitudes and coping strategies in doctors and teachers in a Cape Town setting

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Van der Bijl ◽  
P Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Negative Coping

<p><strong>Objective.</strong> To investigate two professional groups (doctors and teachers) with regard to symptoms of anxiety and depression as a measure of psychological distress, as well as perceptions regarding job satisfaction, workload and adequacy of remuneration. To assess health care behaviour as evidenced by substance use, psychotropic medication use, self-prescribing habits (in doctors), help-seeking behaviour as well as negative coping strategies as indicated by the intention to emigrate and/or leave the profession.</p><p><strong>Design.</strong> Data were collected from randomly distributed questionnaires which included a validated objective screening instrument, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).</p><p><strong>Subjects and setting.</strong> Questionnaires were distributed among 260 physicians at Tygerberg Academic Hospital and 200 teachers from five different schools in the northern suburbs of metropolitan Cape Town.</p><p><strong>Results.</strong> We found high levels of job dissatisfaction and symptoms of anxiety and depression in both groups, with teachers more affected than doctors. A large proportion of respondents with clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression remain untreated. Many respondents displayed a passive attitude with regard to seeking help. A significant proportion of doctors self-prescribed antidepressant and benzodiazepine medications. Only a small minority of doctors had a general practitioner whom they would consult when ill. Twenty-nine per cent of doctors indicated their intention to emigrate and 40% of teachers were planning to leave their profession.</p><p><strong>Conclusion.</strong> Our results suggest that doctors and teachers in South Africa are two professional groups at high risk for developing serious mental health problems, with low levels of recognition and intervention at present.</p>

scholarly journals General practitioners’ perspectives on campaigns to promote rapid help-seeking behaviour at the onset of rheumatoid arthritis

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Stack ◽  
Zara Llewellyn ◽  
Chris Deighton ◽  
Patrick Kiely ◽  
Christian D. Mallen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

scholarly journals Depression and anxiety in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Weibelzahl ◽  
J. Reiter ◽  
G. Duden
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Work Related Stressors

Abstract Healthcare staff have been at the centre of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, facing diverse work-related stressors. Building upon studies from various countries, we aimed to investigate (1) the prevalence of various work-related stressors among healthcare professionals in Germany specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) the psychological effects of these stressors in terms of clinical symptoms, and (3) the healthcare professionals' help-seeking behaviour. To this end, N = 300 healthcare professionals completed an online survey including the ICD-10 Symptom Rating checklist (ISR), event-sampling questions on pandemic-related stressors and self-formulated questions on help-seeking behaviour. Participants were recruited between 22 May and 22 July 2020. Findings were analysed using t tests, regressions and comparisons to large clinical and non-clinical samples assessed before and during the pandemic. Results show that healthcare professionals were most affected by protective measures at their workplace and changes in work procedures. Psychological symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression, were significantly more severe than in a non-clinical pre-pandemic sample and in the general population during the pandemic. At the same time, most professionals indicated that they would not seek help for psychological concerns. These findings indicate that healthcare employers need to pay greater attention to the mental health of their staff.

scholarly journals The role of private general practitioners in the treatment of alcohol dependence in the Free State province

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 561-566
Author(s):  
PM Van Zyl ◽  
CA Gagiano ◽  
WF Mollentze ◽  
JS Snyman ◽  
G Joubert
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Free State ◽  
Free State Province

scholarly journals ‘Genetic loading’ or ‘evil mind’: current conceptions of depression in Myanmar from the perspective of healthcare professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Steffen Schödwell ◽  
Theresa Steinhäuser ◽  
Anna Auckenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Loading ◽  
Patients Perspective

In Myanmar, a country that has just recently opened up to the international community, Buddhist and traditional healing methods are still widely applied to various diseases and conditions. The aim of this study was to ascertain how professionals from the biomedical healthcare system in Myanmar experience interactions with patients with depression, based on the professionals' conceptualisation of this disorder. Six problem-centred interviews were conducted and analysed with grounded theory methodology. The interviewed professionals conceptualised three ways of understanding depression, including different treatment strategies: a biomedical, a contextual and a Buddhist concept of depression. Concerning the patients' perspective, the professionals mentioned somatic, religious and supernatural explanatory models, as well as corresponding help-seeking behaviour. Our results suggest that by taking a biomedical approach, professionals risk neglecting both the needs and resources of Myanmar patients with depressive symptoms.

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

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jascha De Nooijer ◽  
Lilian Lechner ◽  
Hein De Vries
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

scholarly journals Pandemic-Induced Depression and Anxiety in Healthcare Professionals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Weibelzahl ◽  
Julia Reiter ◽  
Gesa Duden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Work Related Stressors

Medical staff has been at the centre of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, facing diverse work-related stressors. Studies from various countries have shown that healthcare professionals have an increased risk of burnout and mental disorders during pandemic outbreaks. The present study aimed to investigate what kind of work-related stressors healthcare professionals in Germany have been facing and how they have been affected psychologically by the COVID-19 pandemic. N=300 healthcare professionals completed an online survey including the ISR symptom checklist to measure psychological well-being and questions on help-seeking behaviour. Findings were analyzed using t-tests, regression, and comparisons to large clinical and non-clinical samples assessed before and during the pandemic. Results show that healthcare professionals were most affected by protective measures at their workplace and changes in work procedures. Psychological symptoms, especially of anxiety and depression, were significantly more severe than in a non-clinical pre-pandemic sample and in the general population during the pandemic. At the same time, most professionals indicated that they would not seek help for psychological concerns. These findings indicate that healthcare employers need to pay increasing attention to the mental health of their staff, encourage help-seeking behaviour, as well as provide access to mental health support.

scholarly journals Urban Health and Social Marginality: Perceived Health Status and Interaction with Healthcare Professionals of a Hard-to-Reach Community Living in a Suburban Area of Rome (Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8804
Author(s):  
Susanna Caminada ◽  
Federica Turatto ◽  
Silvia Iorio ◽  
Lorenzo Paglione ◽  
Miriam Errigo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
Local Health Unit ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Related

The study reports an urban health investigation conducted in Bastogi, an outskirt of Rome (Italy) characterised by social marginalization and deprivation. Our aim was to analyse the health perception, health-related behaviours, and interaction with healthcare professionals of the inhabitants of Bastogi compared to the population living in the area of the same local health unit (ASL). The Progresses of Health Authorities for Health in Italy questionnaire (PASSI) was administered to a sample of 210 inhabitants of Bastogi. Data were analysed and compared to those of the ASL collected in 2017–2018. The socio-economic indicators showed an overall worse condition for the inhabitants of Bastogi, with a significantly higher proportion of foreign and unemployed residents and a lower educational level compared to the ASL. Significant differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, mental health complaints, and participation in prevention strategies, including cancer screening, were found. The questionnaire showed a lower help-seeking behaviour and a lack of reliance on health professionals in Bastogi inhabitants. Our findings highlight how social determinants produce health inequities and barriers to accessing healthcare. The difficulties of conducting quantitative research in complex and hard-to-reach contexts, characterized by high social vulnerability, are outlined.

scholarly journals Help-seeking behaviour for chronic pain

2011 ◽  
pp. 31-34
Author(s):  
Nicola Cornally
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Risk Of Fall ◽  
Daily Pain ◽  
Key Questions

Many people with Chronic Pain do not seek help from healthcare professionals; in some cases, they are suffering severe daily pain. Others have sought help initially but failed to return if their pain prescription ran out or treatment was ineffective. There is also a cohort of people who delay seeking help until their pain becomes intolerable. Untreated Chronic Pain can lead to increased disability, increased risk of fall, depression, sleep deprivation, reduced quality of life, social isolation and impact significantly on co-existing diseases. It is therefore pertinent to ask the following questions; why do some people suffer in silence? Why do people fall off the help-seeking path? Why is help-seeking delayed? Although these may be key questions to consider, it would be as prudent to ask what factors influence prompt help-seeking behaviour. The answers to the latter question may provide valuable information on model behaviour which could be adopted by ...

scholarly journals N06 Help-seeking behaviours for fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S660-S660
Author(s):  
D NI DHALAIGH ◽  
G Anna Marie ◽  
D Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽  
Bowel Disease ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Symptom Perception ◽  
Planned Behaviour ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Fatigue is a common and burdensome symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although many symptoms of IBD can be debilitating, fatigue is reported by people with IBD as the most difficult symptom to live with. It is experienced by up to 86% of people in active disease and 41–48% of people with IBD in remission, and impacts greatly on all aspects of people’s lives. Fatigue is a complex and invisible symptom and therefore can often be overlooked by those caring for people with IBD. Since it is invisible, it can only be made known to healthcare professionals if patients seek help for it. The experience of people who seek help for IBD fatigue is unknown, as are the reasons some choose to seek help and others do not. This study aims to explore the determinants of help-seeking behaviour for fatigue in IBD and examine why some people with IBD fatigue are more likely to seek help than others. Methods An exploratory qualitative method was employed, underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A voluntary sample of 12 people with a diagnosis of IBD was recruited from the Irish Society of Crohn’s and Colitis. The sample included people who had and who had not sought help for IBD fatigue in the past. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Themes were uncovered using content analysis. Results Themes uncovered included symptom perception, impact of IBD fatigue and knowledge of and access to sources of help. Most commonly, people did not seek help if they could continue life with relative normalcy in spite of IBD fatigue. Access and availability of help was perceived as good. Barriers, such as time and cost, were identified as making help-seeking more difficult at times, however these did not prevent seeking help. Poor knowledge of the sources of help, IBD fatigue being regarded as an inferior symptom to other symptoms and the perceived lack of interventions to manage the complex symptom emerged as important factors influencing help-seeking behaviour. Conclusion The Theory of Planned Behaviour was found to be a useful framework to predict help-seeking behaviour for IBD fatigue. Symptom perception, impact of IBD fatigue and knowledge of and access to sources of help are the most influential aspects of help-seeking behaviour. IBD fatigue appears to lack the legitimacy of other IBD symptoms. Therefore, there is a need for healthcare professionals to fully acknowledge and routinely assess fatigue as part of the clinical management of IBD. Further research aimed at specifically managing fatigue as a major IBD burden is warranted, in particular multidimensional, holistic interventions to help people cope with the impact of IBD fatigue.

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