Thesis
Perceptions of mental health care acceptability: understanding how knowledge gaps hinder rural access
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2020
DOI: 10.17077/etd.005342
Abstract
Farming is an occupation that can lead to psychological distress and an increased likelihood of developing a mental illness or committing suicide. Rural mental health services can provide treatment for farmers who are experiencing mental illness or psychological distress. However, there are a variety of barriers that can hinder access to mental health services in rural or agricultural communities. Acceptability, the adequacy and appropriateness of care as perceived by the patient, has been identified as a primary barrier to providing culturally competent mental health care in unique populations. A perceived inadequacy of care can negatively impact a patient’s participation in services and their resulting mental health outcomes. Yet there is little research on how farmers perceive the acceptability of their mental health care in regard to cultural competencies, such as agricultural knowledge. The goals of this study were to identify how perceived gaps in provider agricultural knowledge impact acceptability of mental health services, identify the agricultural topics that farmers believe to be relevant for care, and better understand how provider agricultural knowledge affects farmer participation in mental health services. By using the qualitative method of inquiry, descriptive data was gathered using semi-structured interviews with Iowa farmers and mental health providers. The results indicate a perceived gap in provider agricultural knowledge with the potential to impact acceptability among farmers due to an inhibited sense of trust and respect for providers who do not understand agriculture. The agricultural topics most frequently declared necessary to providing acceptable care were job-related stressors, such as financial strain, and the cultural aspects of agriculture, such as stigma and pride. Both the providers and farmers indicated that a professional development training on these topics for providers would be beneficial in improving farmer-provider relationships and acceptability. However, many participants regarded training as the bare minimum level of effort required for acceptability and emphasized the importance of continuous networking and outreach with local agricultural groups to improve perceived trust and respect. By better understanding farmer perceptions of care, evidence-based methods can be implemented by rural mental health providers to encourage farmer participation in services and positive mental health outcomes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Perceptions of mental health care acceptability: understanding how knowledge gaps hinder rural access
- Creators
- Madison J Stewart
- Contributors
- Brandi Janssen (Advisor)Diane Rohlman (Committee Member)Corinne Peek-Asa (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Spring 2020
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.005342
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- ix, 68 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2020 Madison J Stewart
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 62-65).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Farming is a stressful job that can lead to mental health problems. Rural mental health services are a source of treatment for improving farmer mental health. However, farmers may not always be able to access mental health services when experiencing stress due to a variety of barriers present in rural areas. One common barrier, referred to as acceptability, is how the farmer views the effectiveness of their treatment or their provider. By understanding what farmers perceive as important agricultural topics for providers to know, acceptability of care and participation in services could be improved.
This study interviewed both Iowa farmers and mental health providers in order to better understand what agricultural topics are considered important for providers to know and why. Many of the farmers believed that there were either not enough providers that understood agriculture or that available providers did not know enough about agriculture. The participants also identified two main categories of important knowledge—job-related sources of stress and cultural sources of stress. The farmers emphasized that knowing these topics about agriculture were important for trusting and respecting their providers. They also believed that just education would not be enough effort to understand agriculture, and that providers should network with those in the agricultural community.
The important agricultural topics and recommendations for learning identified by this study can also be used as evidence for providers to learn more about the stressors and cultural aspects of farming in order to improve acceptability of seeking mental health treatment among farmers.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983949694702771
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