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Trauma Survivors' Emotional Distress and Barriers to Early Psychological Intervention in an Inner-City Acute Surgical Trauma Service |
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| Authors: | Kathariya Mokrue Patricia O'Neill Peter Weiden Steven Friedman Mary Cavaleri |
| Institution: | 1. York College—The City University of New York , Jamaica, New York, USA kmokrue@york.cuny.edu;3. State University of New York Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn, New York, USA;4. University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois, USA;5. Hunter College—The City University of New York , New York, New York, USA |
| Abstract: | Fifty-five predominantly low-income ethnic minority patients were interviewed and screened for early signs of psychological distress following traumatic injury. A free, brief intervention and transportation were offered to patients who evidenced psychiatric symptoms. Over half of participants reported psychiatric symptoms, but none accepted the free intervention. This study examined reasons participants remained reluctant to engage in services despite elimination of common barriers. Results highlight the importance of perceptual barriers over structural barriers in engaging patients in psychological interventions following a traumatic event. |
| Keywords: | acute stress barriers to care low-income ethnic minorities physical trauma |