TY - JOUR

T1 - Resources in vulnerable young adults

T2 - Self-Assessments during preventive consultation with their general practitioner in Denmark

AU - Freund, Kirsten Schierup

AU - Guassora, Ann Dorrit

AU - Hegelund, Trine

AU - Hvas, Lotte

AU - Lous, Jørgen

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Inequality in health is increasing. People with many problems often lack energy to improve well-being and reduce their problems. This study analyses how psycho-socially challenged younger (20-to 44-year-old) patients described their own resources to reach lifestyle goals or alter life circumstances. Within the context of a randomized controlled trial, Danish participants had two structured preventive person-centred consultations with their general practitioner. Consultations focused on well-being, salutogenesis, resources, barriers and support of autonomy. Using the qualitative method: Systematic Text Condensation, we made thematic cross-Analysis of patients' goal-specific resource statements described at the first consultation. Of the 209 patients, 191 (91%) chose one or two goals for a better life next year; nearly all (179) could recall and describe which resources they would use to reach their goal. We categorized resource statements into (i) personal constitution as 'willpower' and 'tenacity'; (ii) network, e.g. family; (iii) personal experience with identical or similar problems. Some patients needed to free up resources by handling psychological problems before being able to focus on lifestyle goals. The study demonstrates that patients with particular psycho-social problems could describe essential resources in a structured, salutogenic, preventive consultation with their general practitioner. Reflecting intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, these resources reflected dimensions of essential health theories like sense of coherence, self-efficacy and self-determination theory. Increased awareness of these resources seems essential for vulnerable patients by improving psychological well-being and optimism, thereby facilitating health-related changes. This may be an important step to reducing inequality in health.

AB - Inequality in health is increasing. People with many problems often lack energy to improve well-being and reduce their problems. This study analyses how psycho-socially challenged younger (20-to 44-year-old) patients described their own resources to reach lifestyle goals or alter life circumstances. Within the context of a randomized controlled trial, Danish participants had two structured preventive person-centred consultations with their general practitioner. Consultations focused on well-being, salutogenesis, resources, barriers and support of autonomy. Using the qualitative method: Systematic Text Condensation, we made thematic cross-Analysis of patients' goal-specific resource statements described at the first consultation. Of the 209 patients, 191 (91%) chose one or two goals for a better life next year; nearly all (179) could recall and describe which resources they would use to reach their goal. We categorized resource statements into (i) personal constitution as 'willpower' and 'tenacity'; (ii) network, e.g. family; (iii) personal experience with identical or similar problems. Some patients needed to free up resources by handling psychological problems before being able to focus on lifestyle goals. The study demonstrates that patients with particular psycho-social problems could describe essential resources in a structured, salutogenic, preventive consultation with their general practitioner. Reflecting intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, these resources reflected dimensions of essential health theories like sense of coherence, self-efficacy and self-determination theory. Increased awareness of these resources seems essential for vulnerable patients by improving psychological well-being and optimism, thereby facilitating health-related changes. This may be an important step to reducing inequality in health.

KW - general practice

KW - qualitative methods

KW - salutogenesis

KW - self-efficacy

KW - well-being

U2 - 10.1093/heapro/daz114

DO - 10.1093/heapro/daz114

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31750922

AN - SCOPUS:85087720247

VL - 35

SP - 1180

EP - 1189

JO - Health Promotion International

JF - Health Promotion International

SN - 0957-4824

IS - 5

ER -