Patterns of help-seeking behavior for anxiety disorders among the Chinese speaking Australian community
Patterns of help-seeking behavior for anxiety disorders among the Chinese speaking Australian community
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DOI：
10.1007/s00127-008-0387-0
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发表时间：
2008-11-01
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
Li, Stephen
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ho, Ka Po;Hunt, Caroline;Li, Stephen
背景在澳大利亚的中国移民中，心理健康服务的利用率很低，但他们的求助模式尚未被调查。这项研究的目的是描述中国移民在寻求焦虑症治疗方面的延迟，并将结果与之前对澳大利亚普通人群的研究进行比较。方法从社区招募49名调查对象。采用自填式问卷和中文-SCID(DSM-IV中文双语结构临床访谈量表)对患者的人口学资料、DSM-IV诊断和求助模式进行评估。结果平均延误治疗时间为7.04年，平均发现问题时间为8.07年。据中国移民报告，寻求帮助最常见的障碍包括对可用的治疗缺乏了解，负担不起治疗的费用，以及没有交通工具来获得服务。最常被认可的求助理由是“我意识到问题是焦虑”。全科医生通常是他们第一个接触的专业人员。结论在澳大利亚的中国移民寻求帮助的时间通常很长，这表明寻求帮助的时间与澳大利亚普通人群相似。然而，寻求帮助的障碍不同，这表明中国移民将受益于有关精神障碍症状和可用治疗的教育。
Background The utilization of mental health services is low among Chinese immigrants in Australia, yet their help-seeking pattern has not been investigated. The aims of this study were to describe the delay among Chinese immigrants in seeking treatment for an anxiety disorder and to compare the results with previous research from the general population in Australia. Methods Forty-nine participants were recruited from the community. Their demographic data, DSM-IV diagnosis and help-seeking patterns were assessed by a self-report questionnaire and the CB-SCID (Chinese-bilingual Structured Clinical Interview Schedule for the DSM-IV). Results The average length of the delay for treatment was 7.04 years and the average time to problem recognition was 8.07 years. The most common barriers to help-seeking reported by Chinese immigrants include a lack of knowledge about available treatment, being unable to afford the cost of the treatment, and having no transportation to access the service. The most frequently endorsed reason for help-seeking was "I recognized the problem was anxiety''. General medical practitioners were most commonly their first professional contact. Conclusions The time taken for Chinese immigrants in Australia to seek help was typically long, suggesting a similar help-seeking delay to the Australian general population. However, different barriers to help-seeking emerged, suggesting that Chinese immigrants would benefit from education about the symptoms of psychiatric disorders and available treatments.