JUST A LITTLE COUGHING: UNDERSTANDING CARE SEEKING FOR RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IN SOCIALLY DEPRIVED ELDERLY MEN

Introduction Men consult their GP infrequently compared to women, and men from socially deprived areas consult even less, even though they have more chronic diseases. Little is known on this particular group and their attending for respiratory symptoms in primary care. We set out to better understand their care seeking behaviour and communicative issues with their GP. In respiratory infections a “wait and see” strategy is often applied to limit inappropriate antibiotic use as the majority of these infections are of viral origin. This strategy involves “safety netting” by instructing in re-attendance if certain “red flag” symptoms develop. . Objective We aimed to determine, how well men from socially deprived areas understand this instruction; specifically the red flag symptoms and the associated care seeking behaviour. Methods As part of a one-year ethnographic fieldwork that followed 12 men aged 60-80 in socially deprived areas of Denmark we conducted in-depth, repeated semi-structured individual interviews. Part of these interviews focused specifically on care seeking behaviour when respiratory symptoms occurred, including understanding of “safety netting” and “red flags”. Data were analysed following thematic analysis. Results and Conclusions This ongoing qualitative study brings new knowledge about care seeking behaviour in respiratory symptoms in this particular group of men. The study may identify factors associated with delayed care seeking behaviour and contribute to an understanding if communicative issues of patient-doctor encounter are involved. Building on this we will provide applicable knowledge for use in daily practice when consulting with this particular group of men.