Factors Influencing the Acceptance of Health Care Services

Several factors may work together or separately to influence the acceptance of health care services. This is an area which has inspired research in many parts of the world, as it is difficult to improve the health of people who cannot or will not accept health care services. Therefore, it is important to explore the reasons for this to develop an understanding that will hopefully eliminate some of the obstacles.

Financial Barriers

• The cost of health care can be alarming. Worry about bills has always deterred some vulnerable and ill people from seeking medical help. Insurance companies should ideally take care of this. However, not everybody needing health care is insured. According to Families USA, one in three of the non-elderly population went without health insurance coverage for all or part of 2006 and 2007. Of these uninsured people, four out of five came from working families. This is clearly a major contributory factor in non-acceptance of health care services.

Rural Population

• According to U.S. government statistics, one in four of the population lives in a rural environment. Statistics also state that this section of the population is more likely to be poor than their urban counterparts. In addition, the rural population is more likely to consist of more elderly people and more people with health problems. Also, the rural population is more likely to have problems with the availability of services and transport to take people to the services.

Psychological Barriers

• There are a range of psychological barriers to take up of health care services. Some people are fearful of going to the doctor or to the hospital. Others are embarrassed or may feel uncomfortable because they cannot pay. They may feel that their pride stands in the way of accepting subsidized health services.

Cultural Barriers

• Some people are conditioned to believe that health care services are not for them. Religious groups, such as Christian Scientists, believe that the body will repair itself without medical intervention. Some religious and cultural groups have strong beliefs about segregation of the sexes and for some this will prove a barrier to health care.