people living in finglas and their health - School of Medicine - Trinity ...

METHODS RESULTS - PART 2
Results
RESULTS
PART 2
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Twenty health service providers were interviewed, six of whom were male. They represented a broad spectrum
of health and social service providers in the community, both health board staff and independent practitioners.
These included dentist, doctors, nurses, pharmacist, therapists and other staff including those involved in care
of the elderly.
Participants were asked how long they had worked in the area. On average the health service providers
interviewed had worked for over six years in the area (ranging from four months to 25 years). Half of the
respondents had worked in the area for three years or more.
The health service providers’ experiences and recommendations are presented under three broad categories:
• the main health issues for people living in Finglas;
• the current health services and the resources required to respond to the people’s health needs;
• the level of co-ordination and teamwork among health service providers in the area.
2.1 THE HEALTH ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY
The health service providers were asked what were the main health issues in the area. The responses are
presented in three categories: physical, mental or social.
Physical problems
According to the health service providers, the most common chronic illnesses included respiratory problems
(affecting young and old), cardiovascular problems, arthritis, diabetes, physical disabilities (including multiple
sclerosis, spina bifida and cerebral palsy) and the problems associated with the care of patients with cancer
and terminal illness.
A quarter of the respondents (5) specifically mentioned the impact of smoking on the physical health of the
community.
‘…the most common kind of physical things would be….ultimately the wages of smoking….chronic obstructive
airways disease, coronary heart disease and then all the other ramification’ (HSP 12)
Many respondents (11) spoke about health problems associated with older people resulting in decreased
mobility, increasing frailty and a reduced ability to care for themselves. The common conditions among the
elderly included arthritis, chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic leg ulcers and cancer.
The respondents raised women’s health as a health need in the area. In particular they mentioned problems
relating to reproductive health and the lack of appropriate locally based health screening facilities. According to
the respondents, young children had problems relating to speech, hearing and dental caries. Some respondents
(4) said that poor nutrition contributed to ill health within the community.
Mental health problems
Over half of the health service providers (11) said that depression was the most common mental health problem
in the area. According to most of the respondents the prevalence of the major psychiatric diseases was no
greater in Finglas than in other parts of the country.
‘I wouldn't say I have any more other kind of mental illnesses than you get across the board, elsewhere, you
know’ (HSP 12)
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