Please help with my assignment! Reluctance of people who eg smoke, drink, are overweight to visit the doctor

[StealthPolarBear]

I though this was generally understood to be true but I am not finding any evidence to back it up! Can anyone point me in the right direction or tell me if I've missed the point?

Sorry uk specific or similar. Not where finance is a barrier.

I imagine that some people feel powerless to stop smoking or stop overeating and that a trip to the doctor would be embarrassing as well as putting pressure on them to change their habit which have probably been formed over a lifetime.

Yes I get that. As well as that issue being blamed for whatever it is that they want to see the gp about.
But in not seeing any actual evidence!

Where are you looking for evidence? I’m assuming you mean that you can’t find any that show people are avoiding going to the doctor for health issues related to those factors, other than anecdotal.
Try looking at nhs funding for specific programmes and the reasons behind the funding. Because money isn’t usually spent unless there’s a significant, evidenced problem.

Yes studies, research

Will try scopus but think it's poor phrasing of the question. Either that or evidence doesn't exist!
Also will look to see if I can find anything on nihr thanks

You probably won't find any "evidence"; reluctance is different from people either being happy/at peace with eg smoking, drinking, being overweight or unknowingly having a problem or are addicted, etc.

Those that unknowingly have a problem won't see it as being "reluctance" to go to their GP as they don't accept that they have a problem. My father was an alcoholic and MIL is an alcoholic and neither realise/d they had/have a problem and were/are in complete denial.

Addiction is very different and difficult, some things you may be able to go 'cold turkey', but for people like myself food is also an addiction. I can't just go cold turkey I have to have a little every day.

Going food shopping is a nightmare which is why I write myself a shopping list of SW friendly foods/ingredients and shop online, that way I am only looking and purchasing what I need, not what I want, which is a big difference. I have lost 2 stone in the 12 months up to xmas 2018, but I am now struggling with it and have not lost anything since (but most importantly I haven't gained either).

I wonder if the theory behind behaviour change is where I need to start

Found one, which hopefully will link to others yay
Minecraft well done on your weight loss

I would suggest behaviour/mindset is a good starting point.

I did go see my GP years ago and they prescribed me some meds to stop me absorbing fat. For me, these didn't work as I then stopped eating fats/oils so it defeated the object; but it showed that I was able to do it, IF I put my mind to it.

I was in the right mindset when I started to lose weight, but since xmas 2018 the desire has not been completely there. I still go to the gym/swimming daily and I really do try, but some days (and the week before my period is due) I can be a complete eating machine .

Thanks Stealth. I've still around 4.5/5 stone to go, but I am starting to get my mind back on it .

It's taken me 18 years to get this heavy; it's not going to go quickly .

After being asked by a doctor if Id ever thought that me drinking 2 small glasses of wine and soda twice a week was impacting my DC happiness and progression at school and being sent for a blood test to check how much I was drinking (obviously all came back fine), when I only went in to discuss a very short term totally unrelated problem, I'd never ever go to a doctor if I thought I had a drink problem.

Does anyone have any references I can use for this?

This research was focused on men bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3706-5

And I need to look at health seeking behaviour

My mums attitude to not visiting the doctors for very obvious lifestyle illnesses could have your entire assignment write itself. I think it's probably more common than people think, like people who don't vote because they don't want to go on the electoral register for fear of debts catching up with them, I have no idea where you could find proof of it though.

Thanks leggy, that's helpful. I'm annoyed there isn't more UK based

Focus on go pathways an affect of inequalities <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/inequalities-resource-sep-2018.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj00I29hdriAhVfShUIHeCnA90QFjACegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw16CHbyODdRMZ1EPCquiXer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/inequalities-resource-sep-2018.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj00I29hdriAhVfShUIHeCnA90QFjACegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw16CHbyODdRMZ1EPCquiXer

www.ft.com/content/628b25ca-06d1-11e9-9fe8-acdb36967cfc

It's specifically thr reluctance of smokers, drinkers and those who are obese to visit their gp I'm after. Inequalities is a separate strand.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10963427

Brilliant thanks, assuming I can find the research. I've also found something on health avoidance but I don't think I have access. Grr.

I think a lot is anecdotal although havent there been some more high profile campaigns following the NHS posters that came put saying that obesity is one of the biggest killers? You may have to have a Google but I'm sure there were a lot of larger campaigners talking about how doctors dont understand them and feeling judged. I know my DM refuses to go the doctor because he 'might mention her weight'. Shes overweight and the poor guy once mentioned the link to high blood pressure...

Got the bbc study thanks :)
That's the issue, I thought this stuff was widely accepted and would be easy to find. Turns out not to be the case