Use of health services Flashcards
What are the factors affecting utilisation of health services?
- differences in symptom perception
- influence of prior experience
- individual health beliefs
- cost-benefit evaluation
- social or emotional factors
- quality of relationship with doctor
What are the factors affecting symptom perception?
- how quickly a physical experience is noticed
- number/intensity of sensations
- amount of attention paid
- competing environmental stimuli
- placebos
What are ‘lay referrals’?
when someone else helps to interpret a symptom
What is the function of the health belief model?
defines behaviour as a result of beliefs that have become refined over time
What does the health belief model describe?
Processes used for:
- primary prevention behaviour
- symptom-based behaviour in secondary prevention
- sick-role behaviour in tertiary prevention
What are social factors influencing use of health services?
- sex-role stereotypes
- environmental factors and access
- family income
- quality of relationship with doctor
What are the types of health service user?
- chronic regular user
- acute regular user
What is treatment delay?
time that elapses between first perception of symptom and when person enters medical care
What are the three stages of treatment delay?
appraisal delay
illness delay
utilisation delay
What is appraisal delay?
the time a person takes to interpret a symptom as an indication of illness
What is illness delay?
the time between recognising one is ill and deciding to seek medical attention
What is utilisation delay?
the time after deciding to seek medical attention and actually using the health service
