@article{ref1,
title="Health service use by same-sex attracted Australian women for alcohol and mental health issues: a cross-sectional study",
journal="BJGP open",
year="2018",
author="McNair, Ruth and Pennay, Amy and Hughes, Tonda L. and Love, Scarlet and Valpied, Jodie and Lubman, Dan I.",
volume="2",
number="2",
pages="bjgpopen18X101565-bjgpopen18X101565",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Same-sex attracted women (SSAW) have higher rates of alcohol and mental health problems than heterosexual women, but utilisation of and satisfaction with treatment is limited. <br><br>AIM: This study investigated the influences on health service use for alcohol and mental health problems among SSAW. DESIGN & SETTING: The Gelberg-Andersen behavioural model of health service utilisation was used to generate outcome variables. <br><br>METHOD: A convenience sample of 521 community-connected Australian SSAW completed an online survey. Health service use according to sexual identity was compared using χ<sup>2</sup> analysis. Binary logistic regression examined associations between the independent variables with treatment utilisation. <br><br>RESULTS: Reports of alcohol treatment were very low. Only 41.1% of participants with service need had utilised mental health and alcohol treatment. Bisexual women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.76) and those with 'other' identities (AOR = 2.38) were more likely to use services than lesbian women. Enablers to service use were having a regular GP (AOR = 3.02); disclosure of sexuality to the GP (AOR = 2.42); lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community-connectedness (AOR = 1.11); and intimate partner violence ([IPV] AOR = 2.51). Social support was associated with a reduction in treatment use (AOR = 0.97). Significant access barriers included not feeling ready for help, and previous negative experiences related to sexual identity. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Disclosing sexual identity to a regular, trusted GP correlated with improved utilisation of alcohol and mental health treatment for SSAW. The benefits of seeking help for alcohol use, and of accessing LGBT-inclusive GPs to do so, should be promoted to SSAW.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2398-3795",
doi="10.3399/bjgpopen18X101565",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen18X101565"
}