Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/23060
Title: | Lay Perceptions of Health and Health Care in Small Town Ontario |
Authors: | Litva, Andrea |
Advisor: | Eyles, John |
Department: | Geography |
Keywords: | perception;health;ontario |
Publication Date: | Apr-1993 |
Abstract: | The focus of this research is to examine people's perceptions around issues of health and health care. Using the qualitative research method of in-depth interviewing, the perceptions of twenty-four individuals are explored. This sample is taken from a middle class, white collar community in Southern Ontario. The major emphasis of this work is upon re-creating a human experience in order to come closer to understanding how people's attitudes and beliefs influence their health seeking behaviour. This research found that health is a taken for granted state which is important for daily functioning. It is a difficult term for people to explain and it was found that changing the term to healthy made it easier for the informants to describe. Some of the determinants of health were explored and it was found that behaviours such as exercise, diet, and drinking alcohol as well as occupation and environment were all perceived as factors which could shape the types of illnesses people suffer. The only behaviour which was seen as a determinant of health was smoking. The informants saw other factors as having a greater influence on determining their health. These were fate, fault (blame), and family(heredity). This study also explored illness behaviour and perceptions about physicians and health care. People are aware of the signals that their bodies give thus signifying that something is wrong. People feel that they go to considerable extent in treating their own illnesses before they seek medical care. They also have expectations about their physician and failure of the physician to meet these expectations can result in a disruption in treatment or termination of the relationship. The Canadian health care system is seen by these informants as being the best in the world. People are very proud of this country's system for the delivery of health care. They are concerned about the health care crisis but perceive a reduction in government spending on health as being irresponsible. This work uncovers many of their ideas about problems in the delivery of health care services and possible solutions to these problems. This work seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge about lay perceptions. It is one of a few formal studies of its type done in Ontario. It represents an additional dimension to the investigation of the delivery of health services. By coming closer to understanding the human experience of health and health care, we can assist in creating a health care system that not only treats illness and diseases but also delivers health to all. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/23060 |
Appears in Collections: | Digitized Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
litva_andrea_c_1993Apr_masters.pdf | 37.12 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in MacSphere are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.