The most common barriers to treatment are stigma, cost, and lack of availability. However, these barriers are just some of the ones that people face. There are also other attitudinal barriers that people may face. The following articles address some of these barriers. They are worth reading for those who want to improve their health.
Don’t Think They Need It
Most people who skipped out on treatment in recent years did so because they didn’t think they needed it. More specifically, more than 95% of those with the condition fall into this majority. These people were unaware that their lives were in danger, despite the detrimental lifestyle changes, the monetary and emotional costs, and the harm that addiction frequently causes. They were unaware of how severe their addiction was.
Going to rehab like Impact Recovery Center will benefit anyone battling a drug or alcohol addiction. Those who have battled addiction know how challenging it can be to overcome it on one’s own, and rehabilitation facilities provide the supportive environment necessary for a full recovery.
Lack of Affordability
Lack of affordability is one of the most significant barriers to health care, making treatment out of reach for many people. In fact, 30% of Americans cite cost as a barrier to getting the treatment they need. Low-income families often have to choose between paying for rent, food, and health care.
Policy changes can help reduce the cost of mental health care. For example, incentive payments for telehealth consultations should be reintroduced, as this can help more psychiatrists offer this service. Additionally, automatic registration for Medicare Safety Net can benefit specific groups of consumers.
Attitudinal Barriers
Attitudinal barriers to treatment are factors people believe prevent them from getting treatment. Specifically, they may feel that the problem they are suffering from is too small or inconsequential to warrant medical attention. This is particularly true for those who do not live in a rich environment. Furthermore, they may feel that they need more resources or that their services are unavailable. These factors may contribute to the high rate of treatment dropouts.
Attitudinal barriers to treatment were significantly more common among respondents with severe disorders than those with mild or moderate conditions. These barriers were inversely related to age.
Cost
One of the most common barriers to receiving the care you need is cost. Patients are often reluctant to discuss prices and are unwilling to share their financial situation. Physicians also can be intimidated by cost discussions. However, understanding cost issues and developing patient trust can reduce awkwardness and improve medication adherence. According to Dr. Goldberg, it’s essential to assume that patients struggle to make ends meet and that medications aren’t inexpensive.
In the 2020 survey, nearly 30 percent of uninsured adults reported delaying treatment because of cost. This figure increased for insured and privately insured individuals but wasn’t statistically significant for those without insurance. However, these barriers increased with the severity of mental illness and for people with private insurance.
Medication Adherence
Barriers to medication adherence can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a patient may not understand their medication and may be reluctant to take it or may have a psychological disorder that inhibits compliance. Either way, it is crucial to understand and address practical barriers to medication adherence to help patients take their medications more consistently and effectively.
Methods for identifying practical barriers to adherence have been described in systematic reviews. These reviews typically include both self-report questionnaires and observational measures. However, a large number of studies and varying scope of the reviews can make it challenging to identify practical barriers.