Sociocultural variations in help-seeking behavior for everyday symptoms and chronic disorders

Author(s): Sanderman, R., Gerstenbluth, I., vandenHeuvel, W. J. A.

Journal/Book: Health Policy. 1998; 44: Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial, Estate Co, Clare, Ireland. Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd. 57-72.

Abstract: In this study, we test the assumption that sociocultural differences in use of health services will only occur below a certain level of illness severity. Data are derived from the Curacao Health Study (n = 2248). Subjects' educational level and degree of proto-professionalization are used as indicators of their sociocultural background. Differences in the likelihood of seeking professional care for several common health problems are analyzed, and are compared with the help-seeking behavior for chronic disorders. As hypothesized, higher educated and proto-professionalized people are less likely to seek care for everyday symptoms. In addition, proto-professionalization is accompanied by a greater likelihood of using over the counter medication. Increasing empowerment of patients appears to lead to increased self care for everyday symptoms. When conditions reach a more serious stage, the differences in help-seeking behavior disappear: for most of the chronic conditions studied, the higher educated and more proto-professionalized individuals are just as likely to seek professional treatment as the less advantaged groups. However, there is a difference as to the type of professional consulted for chronic health problems. Proto-professionalized individuals more often receive specialist treatment, probably because they are better equipped to persuade GPs to refer. The adverse side of patient empowerment may be increasing consumerism: a situation in which patient demands, not medical necessity, determine the care delivered.

Note: Article Alberts JF, Med & Publ Hlth Serv, Epidemiol & Res Unit, Piscaderaweg 49, Curacao, NETH ANTILLES

Keyword(s): health services utilization; self-care; social class; need; patient empowerment; lay attitudes; 3 COMMON INJURIES; HEALTH-CARE; SOCIAL-STRATIFICATION; UNITED-STATES; SERVICES; PERSPECTIVE; POPULATION; PATTERNS; PATIENT; WOMEN

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