A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Care for People With Co-Occurring Disorders

• Published in: Archives of psychiatric nursing 2017-08, Vol.31 (4), p.399-406
• Main Authors: Sorsa, Minna, Greacen, Tim, Lehto, Juhani, Åstedt-Kurki, Päivi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Co-occurring disorder; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Finland; Health personnel attitudes; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health personnel; Mental Health Services - utilization; Nursing; Qualitative Research; Service management; Substance-Related Disorders - therapy; Treatment barriers
• ISSN: 0883-9417; 1532-8228
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2017.04.013

The present qualitative study used face-to-face and telephone interviews with service providers in the Tampere area in Finland to describe the provider viewpoint on barriers to care for people with co-occurring disorders. The core barrier concerns the definition and understanding of the problems: client and professional perspectives often differ, and both can be out of step with what the care system actually proposes. Professionals need to take into account contexts with potentially multiple barriers to care. Providers in each local area should examine possible barriers and find solutions together, integrating the client perspective at each step in the process. [Display omitted] •Barriers to care for people with co-occurring disorders are described in a qualitative study.•The client and professional perspectives can be out of step with what the care system actually proposes.•Professionals need to take into account contexts with potentially multiple barriers to care.•Providers in each local area should examine possible barriers and find solutions together.