TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Role of primary care in supporting older adults who self-harm: a qualitative study in England
JO  - British journal of general practice
A1  - Troya, M. Isabela
A1  - Chew-Graham, Carolyn A.
A1  - Babatunde, Opeyemi O.
A1  - Bartlam, Bernadette
A1  - Mughal, Faraz
A1  - Dikomitis, Lisa
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Self-harm and suicide are major public health concerns. Self-harm is the strongest risk factor for suicide, with the highest suicide rates reported in older populations. Little is known about how older adults access care following self-harm, but they are in frequent contact with primary care. <br><br>AIM: To identify and explore barriers and facilitators to accessing care within primary care for older adults who self-harm. DESIGN AND SETTING: An exploratory qualitative methods study using semi-structured interviews with older adults and third-sector workers in England. Older adults were invited to participate in one follow-up interview. <br><br>METHOD: Interviews occurred between September 2017 and September 2018. These were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and data analysed thematically. A patient and public involvement and engagement group contributed to the study design, data analysis, and interpretation. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 24 interviews with nine older adults and seven support workers, including eight follow-up interviews with older adults, were conducted. Three themes emerged: help-seeking decision factors; sources of support; and barriers and facilitators to accessing primary care. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Despite older adults' frequent contact with GPs, barriers to primary care existed, which included stigma, previous negative experiences, and practical barriers such as mobility restrictions. Older adults' help-seeking behaviour was facilitated by previous positive experiences. Primary care is a potential avenue for delivering effective self-harm support, management, and suicide prevention in older adults. Given the complex nature of self-harm, there is a need for primary care to work with other sectors to provide comprehensive support to older adults who self-harm.<br><br>© British Journal of General Practice 2019.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0960-1643
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X706049
ID  - ref1
ER  -