Race and ethnic differences in health beliefs about lower urinary tract symptoms.
Race and ethnic differences in health beliefs about lower urinary tract symptoms.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1097/nnr.0b013e3182159cac
复制
发表时间：
2011-05
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Tennstedt SL
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Welch LC;Botelho EM;Tennstedt SL
Health beliefs are an important mediator between the experience of symptoms and health behaviors, and these beliefs can vary by race or ethnicity. To better understand the gap between experiencing symptoms and not seeking medical care by studying health beliefs about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) across race and ethnic groups. Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 Black, Hispanic, and White people who reported at least one urinary symptom but had not spoken with a health care provider about the symptoms. Drawing on Shaw’s framework of health behavior and outcomes, a range of beliefs was examined: cause, consequence, continuation, and treatability. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes according to race or ethnic background. The belief that LUTS are a typical part of aging and not amenable to medical treatment was most common among White respondents. Black respondents more commonly attributed their symptoms to personal behaviors over which they had control and therefore did not require medical care. Hispanic respondents appeared more often to live with uncertainty about the cause of their symptoms and an accompanying concern about a future health consequence. The combination of a range of health beliefs to form a cognitive representation made sense of the behavior of not seeking medical care. The finding that sociocultural differences shaped these cognitive representations underscores the need for cultural competency in patient assessment and education. Results have implications for theories of health behavior and indicate further research with larger samples, additional psychosocial influences, and other symptoms.
