title: The role of perceived helpfulness in predicting subjective unmet need and the frequency of health care use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We scrutinize the health care use of divorcees, in order to explain why users of mental health care have a higher risk of perceiving an unmet need. We hypothesize that a perception of low helpfulness of received care heightens the risk of perceiving an unmet need and becoming a less frequent health care user.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three subsamples from the Divorce in Flanders survey are selected: those who contacted a general practitioner (n=816), a psychiatrist (n=205), or a psychologist (n=251) because of social or emotional problems. Logistic regressions are used in order to explore the correlates of subjective unmet need and the frequency of contact with a health care provider among each subsample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  show that patients who perceived that care was not helpful more often reported an unmet need and made less frequent use of health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that people are less inclined to seek further help when they perceive previous help as being ineffective.
authors: HeDeRa (Health and Demographic Research), Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Elien.Colman@Ugent.be.
authors: Elien
authors: E
authors: Colman
authors: HeDeRa (Health and Demographic Research), Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Missinne
authors: HeDeRa (Health and Demographic Research), Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Piet
authors: P
authors: Bracke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001530:Belgium; D004243:Divorce / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data