GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH SERVICES UTILIZATION

描述：(申请者摘要) 沃恩博士正在以经验较少的新申请者的身份提交此申请 调查员。沃恩博士有几年的医疗服务研究经验， 这是她作为NIH拨款首席研究员的第一份申请。 本研究建议描述性别差异在需要、利用上的差异 在药物滥用治疗之前获得保健和社会服务的机会。 还将特别关注少数民族之间的差异。 在性别范围内。客户将在中心招聘时被招募和面试 药物治疗转介中心。更具体地说，这项研究具有 以下目标： 1.比较男性和女性成年吸毒者的特征。客户 面谈将在接受治疗时评估以下方面 特征：吸毒/酗酒史、身体健康、精神健康、 家庭和社会关系、法律参与和财政资源。 2.评价卫生和社会服务利用方面的差异 在转介到药物治疗之前，适用于男性和女性成年客户。哪里 有可能，将在不同客户之间进行性别比较 比赛。 3.评估获得包括药品在内的保健服务方面的性别差异 虐待治疗。如果客户得不到必要的服务，我们将 确定获得服务的障碍，包括药物滥用治疗。 这项研究的一个主要结果将是确定所使用的服务 通常在转诊到药物滥用治疗之前。此信息具有 通过以下方式协助外联和预防工作的巨大潜力 可能发现吸毒者的环境。其中最 治疗的困难方面是识别滥用药物的妇女和 把他们吸引到看护中心。需要研究来检查女性在治疗中是如何 来到那里，并确定在妇女亚群中的差异 他们进入治疗的路线。人们对此的认识相对较少 卫生保健专业人员对基于性别的生理差异的看法 和文化环境。性虐待、抑郁、贫穷、 单亲父母、就业不足和自尊可能会影响男性和 女性不同，导致女性滥用药物的风险比 男性。识别这些风险、与这些风险相关的服务利用率 风险和服务障碍可能有助于及早识别妇女 有滥用药物的风险。这项研究也将增进对 女性接受药物治疗的障碍。

DESCRIPTION: (Applicant Abstract) Dr. Vaughan is submitting this application as a new, less experienced investigator. Dr. Vaughan has several years of health services research experience, and this is her first submission as principal investigator for a NIH grant. This study proposes to describe gender differences in the need for, utilization of, and access to health and social services prior to drug abuse treatment. Specific attention will also be given to differences across ethnic minorities within gender. Clients will be recruited and interviewed at intake at a central referral center for drug treatment. More specifically, this study has the following aims: 1. To compare characteristics of male and female adult drug abusers. Clients interviewed will be assessed at treatment intake on the following characteristics: drug/alcohol use history, physical health, mental health, family and social relationships, legal involvement, and financial resources. 2. To evaluate differences in the utilization of health and social services prior to referral to drug treatment, for male and female adult clients. Where possible, comparisons within gender will be made between clients of different races. 3. To evaluate gender differences in access to health services, including drug abuse treatment. If clients do not receive necessary services, we will determine the barriers to obtaining services, including drug abuse treatment. A major outcome of this study will be identification of services used frequently prior to referral to substance abuse treatment. This information has enormous potential to assist outreach and prevention efforts by identifying likely environments in which drug abusers may be found. One of the most difficult aspects of treatment is identifying substance abusing women and drawing them into care. Research is needed to examine how women in treatment came to be there and identify differences among sub-populations of women in the route by which they entered treatment. There is relatively little awareness among health care professional regarding sex-based differences in physiology and cultural environment. Such factors as sexual abuse, depression, poverty, single parenthood, under-employment, and self-esteem may affect males and females differently, leading to greater risk of drug abuse for females than males. Identification of these risks, service utilization associated with these risks, and barriers to services may assist early identification of women at risk for drug abuse. This research will also enhance the understanding of barriers to drug treatment for women.