GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH SERVICES UTILIZATION

描述：（申请人摘要） 沃恩医生是作为一个新的，经验不足的 调查员 沃恩博士有几年的卫生服务研究经验， 这是她第一次作为首席研究员申请国家卫生研究院的资助。 本研究拟描述性别差异的需要，利用 在药物滥用治疗之前，必须确保获得保健和社会服务。 还将特别关注少数民族之间的差异 性别内。客户将在中心招募并接受面试 转介戒毒中心更具体地说，这项研究 以下目标： 1.比较成年男女滥用药物者的特征。客户 接受访谈者将在接受治疗时进行以下评估 特征：药物/酒精使用史，身体健康，心理健康， 家庭和社会关系、法律的参与和财政资源。 2.评估在利用保健和社会服务方面的差异 在转介到药物治疗之前，为男性和女性成年客户。哪里 在可能的情况下，将在不同性别的客户之间进行比较。 种族 3.评价在获得保健服务，包括药物方面的性别差异 虐待治疗如果客户没有得到必要的服务，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成果将是确定所使用的服务 通常是在转介到药物滥用治疗之前。这一信息 通过查明和确定在协助外联和预防工作方面的巨大潜力， 吸毒者可能出现的环境。 治疗的难点是确定滥用药物的妇女， 把他们送进医院需要进行研究，以检查妇女在治疗中 在那里发现了女性亚群体之间的差异， 他们进入治疗的途径。相对来说， 在卫生保健专业人员中， 和文化环境。性虐待，抑郁，贫穷， 单亲家庭、就业不足和自尊可能会影响男性， 女性的不同，导致女性滥用药物的风险高于 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早期识别妇女， 滥用药物的风险。这项研究还将增进对 妇女戒毒治疗的障碍。

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.