title: After hours healthcare for older patients in New Zealand--barriers to accessing care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore older people's attitudes and their perceptions of barriers when seeking medical care after hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews and a focus group of older people were conducted and key informants were interviewed. The data was analysed using qualitative techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reluctance to be a nuisance, transport problems, cost, lack of information, and reluctance to see an unfamiliar doctor are among the barriers described by older people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were transport, cost, and social barriers to older people obtaining after hours medical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: Chrystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jaye
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005249:Fees and Charges; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009520:New Zealand; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000191:economics