Barriers to mental health service use among hematopoietic SCT survivors

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2010 Mar;45(3):570-9. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2009.166. Epub 2009 Jul 13.

Abstract

This study examined barriers to mental health service use and the demographic, medical and psychosocial correlates of these barriers among hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) survivors. A sample of 253 HSCT survivors who were 1 to 3 years posttransplant completed measures of demographic, physical, psychological and social characteristics as well as a newly modified measure of barriers to mental health service use. Only 50% of distressed HSCT survivors had received mental health services. An exploratory factor analysis of the barriers to mental health service use scale yielded four factors: scheduling barriers, knowledge barriers, emotional barriers and illness-related barriers. Patients with higher social constraints (perceived problems discussing the illness experience with significant others) reported higher levels of all four types of barriers. General distress and transplant-related posttraumatic stress symptoms were positively associated with emotional, knowledge and illness-related barriers to mental health service use, whereas physical and functional well-being were inversely associated with these barriers. Having more knowledge barriers and more emotional barriers predicted a lower likelihood of receiving mental health services, as did lower levels of education and general distress. Results suggest that a significant number of HSCT survivors may benefit from education about mental health services that is tailored to individual barriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / psychology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / psychology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Patient Participation
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Psychology
  • Social Support
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / prevention & control
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological
  • United States
  • Young Adult