title: A qualitative study of referring agents' perceptions of access barriers to inpatient substance abuse treatment centres in the Western Cape.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite empirical support for the individual and public health benefits of treating substance use disorders (SUDs) , access to these services is impeded by several barriers. Although many studies on access barriers have been put forward in the literature, few have explored the barriers to accessing state-funded inpatient substance abuse treatment or the views of referral agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted to explore referring agents' perceptions of the barriers to accessing state-funded inpatient substance abuse treatment centres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Six individual in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using theoretical thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The key barriers to emerge from the analysis pertained to referring agents' perceptions of the following: service users, the substance abuse referral and treatment system and community dynamics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations are made for interventions to address the identified barriers.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Cape Town, South Africa. debz.isobell@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isobell
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Cape Town, South Africa. kkamaloodien@uwc.ac.za.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamaloodien
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Cape Town, South Africa. ssavahl@uwc.ac.za.
authors.forename: Shazly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savahl
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013019:South Africa; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*