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Table 3 Proportions of respondents citing reasons for not consulting a GP for depression, by gender and nationality

From: Why underserved patients do not consult their general practitioner for depression: results of a qualitative and a quantitative survey at a free outpatient clinic in Paris, France

 

Total (n = 250)

Men (n = 129)

Women (n = 121)

 

Foreigners (n = 132)

French (n = 118)

 
 

N

%

n

%

n

%

p

n

%

n

%

p

1. Treatment of depression

            

a) Reluctance:

229*

91.6

121*

93.8

108*

89.3

0.196

120*

90.9

109*

92.4

0.677

  - The inefficacy of drugs.

137

54.8

69

53.5

68

56.2

0.667

61

46.2

76

64.4

0.004

  - The possibility that the physician would prescribe drugs with side effects.

173

69.2

84

65.1

89

73.6

0.149

87

65.9

86

72.9

0.233

  - Afraid of the duration and complexity of the treatment.

136

54.4

74

57.4

62

51.2

0.331

71

53.8

65

55.1

0.837

  - Afraid of the side effects of drugs.

142

56.8

73

56.6

69

57.0

0.945

58

43.9

84

71.2

<0.001

  - Afraid to face reality.

121

48.4

59

45.7

62

51.2

0.384

75

56.8

46

39.0

0.005

b) Psychiatrist better suited than a GP

76

30.4

40

31.0

36

29.8

0.829

34

25.8

42

35.6

0.091

c) Trust in God:

173*

69.2

85*

65.9

88*

72.7

0.242

108*

81.8

65*

55.1

<0.001

  - God can heal

166

66.4

81

62.8

85

70.2

0.212

103

78.0

63

53.4

<0.001

  - Prayer can heal

158

63.2

78

60.5

80

66.1

0.355

99

75.0

59

50.0

<0.001

d) Not believing that treatment is necessary:

200*

80.0

99*

76.7

101*

83.5

0.184

102*

77.3

98*

83.1

0.254

  - I know why I’m depressed, so if I solve the problem, I’ll feel better

188

75.2

94

72.9

94

77.7

0.378

97

73.5

91

77.1

0.507

  - I don’t think I’m depressed (enough)

170

68.0

84

65.1

86

71.1

0.313

84

63.6

86

72.9

0.118

2. Perception of depression

            

a) Loss of self-worth (poor self-image):

169*

67.6

89*

69.0

80*

66.1

0.627

102*

77.3

67*

56.8

0.001

  - Shame of being depressed .

90

36.0

48

37.2

42

34.7

0.681

56

42.4

34

28.8

0.025

  - Feeling guilty towards society.

58

23.2

37

28.7

21

17.4

0.034

41

31.1

17

14.4

0.002

  - Depression is a weakness.

129

51.6

72

55.8

57

47.1

0.169

77

58.3

52

44.1

0.024

  - Lack of virility*.

37

28.7**

37

28.7

   

27

20.5

10

8.5

0.040

b) Stigmatization:

75*

70.0

88*

68.2

87*

71.9

0.525

97*

73.5

78*

66.1

0.203

  - Afraid of being judged by society.

101

40.4

56

43.4

45

37.2

0.316

64

48.5

37

31.4

0.006

  - Afraid of being considered crazy.

98

39.2

44

34.1

54

44.6

0.089

54

40.9

44

37.3

0.558

  - I’m afraid of being categorized by society or my friends and family.

130

52.0

63

48.8

67

55.4

0.301

74

56.1

56

47.5

0.174

c) Mental health problems are not diseases.

71

28.4

48

37.2

23

19.0

<0.001

44

33.3

27

22.9

0.067

d) Depression is a taboo subject.

95

38.0

65

50.4

30

24.8

<0.001

56

42.4

39

33.1

0.127

e) I have a family history of depression and don’t want to follow suit.

71

28.4

35

27.1

36

29.8

0.646

34

25.8

37

31.4

0.327

3. Social environment

            

a) Someone at home to talk to.

175

70.0

90

69.8

85

70.2

0.934

88

66.7

87

73.7

0.224

b) Afraid to bother those around him/her.

147

58.8

77

59.7

70

57.9

0.768

73

55.3

74

62.7

0.235

c) Incompatibility with social status:

99*

39.6

57*

44.2

42*

34.7

0.126

56*

42.4

43*

36.4

0.334

  - Prohibited because of social status.

76

30.4

44

34.1

32

26.4

0.188

45

34.1

31

26.3

0.180

  - Prohibited because of role among family and friends.

71

28.4

40

31.0

31

25.6

0.345

42

31.8

29

24.6

0.205

4. Doctor-patient relationship

            

a) Not knowing a doctor to talk to

125*

50.0

74*

57.4

51*

42.1

0.016

73*

55.3

52*

44.1

0.076

  - No GP to talk to about it.

83

33.2

45

34.9

38

31.4

0.559

57

43.2

26

22.0

<0.001

  - Don’t know who to talk to.

96

38.4

57

44.2

39

32.2

0.052

60

45.5

36

30.5

0.015

  - Don’t know GP well enough.

108

43.2

66

51.2

42

34.7

0.009

69

52.3

39

33.1

0.002

b) Neglect on the part of the GP

112*

44.8

63*

48.8

49*

40.5

0.185

60*

45.5

52*

44.1

0.826

  - The GP would not listen to the complaint

110

44.0

54

41.9

56

46.3

0.482

52

39.4

58

49.2

0.121

  - Bad experiences with GP.

60

24.0

38

29.5

22

18.2

0.037

37

28.0

23

19.5

0.115

c) Not a GP’s role

158*

63.2

81*

62.8

77*

63.6

0.890

81*

61.4

77*

65.3

0.524

  - The GP could not look after this problem.

88

35.2

47

36.4

41

33.9

0.673

43

32.6

45

38.1

0.358

  - Afraid to bother GP.

101

40.4

51

39.5

50

41.3

0.773

56

42.4

45

38.1

0.490

  1. *At least one event.
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BMC Primary Care

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