Table 1 Summary of themes with examples
From: A qualitative study of influences on older women’s practitioner choices for back pain care
Influences on health service utilisation | Example |
|---|---|
Familiarity/relationship with providers and familiarity with treatment type | - Current/previous experience with a provider group for back pain related or unrelated complaint |
- Familiarity with the treatment procedures for a provider group (irrespective or previous effectiveness for same or different ailment/complaint) | |
- Exclusion of future encounters with a provider group due to previous negative experience | |
Family/social networks: | - Anecdotes from family/social networks for the effectiveness of a specific practitioner |
- Recommendations for a provider group | |
- Recommendation based on second-hand knowledge or community reputation of a specific practitioner | |
Proximity of practitioners | - Attractiveness of nearby/local practitioners |
- Difficulty travelling to practitioners for treatment due to physical pain/mobility | |
- Difficulties finding appropriate/suitable practitioners in local proximity | |
- Highly valued practitioners worthy of travelling greater distances for treatment | |
Qualifications and credentials | - Research on internet/talking to friends/family about provider group approaches to treatment, efficacy and evidence base |
- Consideration/assessment of formal qualifications | |
- Difficultly knowing what qualifications mean | |
- Experience and practical expertise outweigh formal qualifications |