Does stimulating self-care increase self-care behaviour for minor illnesses of Dutch and Turkish inhabitants of a deprived area in The Netherlands?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine whether self-care behaviour increases after a self-care stimulating intervention that proved to be successful in reducing care-seeking behaviour for minor illnesses of Turkish and Dutch inhabitants of a deprived area in the Netherlands, and to see whether there are cultural differences.


METHODS
This longitudinal study was based on a "pre-test/post-test one group" design. Data were collected during three structured face-to-face interviews: before the intervention, and 6 months and 1 year after the intervention, in which GPs personally handed out booklets to their patients containing guidelines on the management of 12 minor illnesses.


RESULTS
The number of self-reported self-care actions did not increase. In contrast to the Dutch, the Turkish participants reported a decrease in the number of self-care actions, their attitude towards self-care became more negative, and they perceived less control.


CONCLUSIONS
Apparently, a reduction in formal health care utilisation is not engendered by an increase in self-care behaviour. In order to make sure that interventions like these will have the intended effect, more research is needed, particularly among non-western populations.


CONCLUSIONS
In developing future healthcare-reducing interventions, one should be aware of possible unwanted side effects in non-western populations.
Plass
Anne Marie C
AM
Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands. amc.plass@vumc.nl
Timmermans
Daniëlle R M
DR
van der Wal
Gerrit
G
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009341:Negativism; D009426:Netherlands; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014421:Turkey