Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Approximately 21% of the respondents reported ‘less than good’
physical health. A greater proportion of females reported less than
good physical health compared to males. There was a steady
increase in the proportion reporting less than good physical health
across the age groups.
Of all respondents, 19% reported ‘less than good’ quality of life,
with females more likely to do so than males. As in the self-reports
of physical health status, the proportion reporting less than good
quality of life increased over the age groups.
Use of health care services and willingness to seek help
The majority of the respondents had attended a general practitioner
(GP) in the previous year for physical health problems, while only
9% reported that they had spoken to a GP about mental health
problems. However, those who had spoken to a GP about mental
health problems had, on average, a greater number of visits (4.4
visits) than those attending with physical health problems (3.9
visits). Females were more likely than males to report general
practice use for physical or mental health problems. As expected,
the older age group was more likely to attend a GP for physical
health problems, while the 50–64 year age group was more likely to
discuss mental health problems with a GP.
A total of 16% of the sample reported that there were barriers that
prevented them from attending a GP in the previous 12 months.
The most frequently reported barriers were cost of visits, the length
of time involved in visits and embarrassment / feeling awkward.
However, in the 65+ age group the most frequently reported
barriers preventing respondents from attending a GP were length of
time involved in the visit followed by difficulties in transportation to
the general practice. It is not unexpected that cost was not an issue
for the 65+ age group as the majority of these individuals had free
medical care.
Not surprisingly, the proportions of respondents reporting attending
secondary mental health services were much less than the
proportion reporting attending general practice for mental health
problems. For example, nine per cent reported attending a GP,
reported attending outpatient clinics, while less than one per cent
reported attending inpatient services.
A total of 6% of the sample reported attending other professionals /
support persons for mental health problems in the previous year
and the most frequently attended were psychiatrist, nurse or
counsellor. Alternative practitioners were reported as the least likely
to be contacted for mental health problems. Most of the
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