title: Explanatory Models of Illness, Help Seeking Behaviours and Related Factors in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Comparative Study from Two Different Provinces of Turkey.
abstract: This study aims to identify the help seeking behaviours of patients from two geographically distinct provinces of Turkey. A questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics and help seeking ways was applied to 49 schizophrenia patients from Van, 99 from Ankara. The ratio of patients seeking psychiatric help at the beginning of their illness was 76% in Ankara, the capital city, in contrast to 54% in Van (p = 0.01). Twenty-two percent of patients from Ankara and 69% from Van reported that non-psychiatric help seeking was the choice of their families (p < 0.001). Thirty-five percent of all patients sought religious support when their symptoms started. Patients with lower education levels sought more religious help (p = 0.002). Help seeking behaviours show regional variations. Religious help seeking behaviour is a major way of dealing with the illness. Psychoeducation is a crucial need both for patients and families.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Dr. AY Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. hdyalvac@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hayriye Dilek
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Yalvaç
authors.affiliation: Bursa State Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif Aktan
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Dr. AY Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kotan
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Dr. AY Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Özer
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Dr. AY Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ersin Hatice
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Karslıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Çayköylü
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Explanatory models of illness; Help-seeking behaviour; Religious beliefs; Schizophrenia