ArticleInternational journal of public health2020
"Why not ask the doctor?" Barriers in help-seeking for sexual problems among older adults in Poland.
Article in International journal of public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sexual health of patients with lung cancer: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Pooled it
- A mixed methods systematic literature review of barriers and facilitators to help-seeking among women with stigmatised pelvic health symptoms.BMC women's health · 2024Pooled it
- Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on menopause among female health workers in Vietnam - findings from a cross-sectional study.Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2025Article
- Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2025Article
- Silent struggles: help-seeking barriers for sexual difficulties among adults 50+ in Czechia.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- The development of an online-based rural community of practice framework for addressing health issues among rural citizens: a grounded theory approach.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Men's views on causes and consequences of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation in a primary care population: a qualitative study.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2024Article
- Women's knowledge and attitudes to the menopause: a comparison of women over 40 who were in the perimenopause, post menopause and those not in the peri or post menopause.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Help-seeking challenges for female sexual concerns: a qualitative study from Iran.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- A Systematic Review on Psychological Interventions for Sexual Health in Older Age.International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health · 2023Article
- Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review.Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesExisting data show that older adults rarely seek medical or psychological help for their sexual problems. The current study explores the barriers in help-seeking faced by older adults from a conservative Central European country.
methodsThirty semi-structured interviews were conducted among Polish residents (16 women, 14 men) aged 65-82. The data were analysed thematically, with coding validity and analytical rigour ensured throughout the process.
resultsThree main barriers in seeking help were identified: not recognising sexual problems; fear for the doctors' disapproval; lack of knowledge how to access appropriate services. The data reveal that the participants' main concern is that health providers would dismiss their problems as trivial. Older adults from Poland suffer from the lack of fundamental knowledge about their sexual functioning.
conclusionsEmploying qualitative methodology to understand why older adults from conservative cultures do not seek help for their sexual problems might contribute to existing literature by providing evidence from different cultural settings, and help to develop and implement appropriate interventions. Implications related to health providers' attitude towards older patients' concerns are further discussed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.