Original research
by
Moallef, Soroush et al
Release Date
2022
Geography
Canada
Language of Resource
English
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
No
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Objective
We sought to determine the prevalence of health care avoidance and its association with emergency department use among PWUD and examine patient-reported nonmedical qualities of health care (“responsiveness”).
Findings/Key points
- About a quarter of our sample of people who use unregulated drugs (PWUD) reported avoiding seeking healthcare for health issues, most commonly for chronic pain and infections.
- Participants who avoided care were significantly more likely to report emergency department use, after adjustment for potential confounders.
- All measured non-medical care qualities were found to be sub-optimal and linked with care avoidance, particularly domains of prompt attention, communication, and respect for dignity and autonomy.
Design/methods
Data from two prospective cohort studies
Keywords
Barriers and enablers
About PWUD
Hospitals
Hesitancy of prescribers
Equity
Chronic pain
Stigma
