Overcoming barriers: Developing a model of treatment for women.
(Book - Regular Print)

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-04.

Adviser: Del Worley.

Thesis (M.A.)--Prescott College Master of Arts Program, 2009.

Interest in women's health has grown over the past two decades. Until recently, women were excluded from clinical trials. What was learned from studies of men was presumed to carry over to women. In the studies that did include women, the data usually were not analyzed separately by gender. It was simply assumed that there were no differences in the way men and women present with an illness or respond to various treatments (Kornstein and Clayton, 2002). This study investigated barriers women experience when seeking mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. A comprehensive review was conducted of the literature on causes as to why women underutilize treatment programs. The study examined previous research on gender differences and disparities in the prevalence of substance use and related problems, treatment-seeking and access, retention in treatment, and treatment outcomes. The readings and interviews, combined with the researcher's academic training and experience in the foregoing fields, provided the basis to develop a model of treatment to best overcome barriers to treatment. Once developed, the model was used to evaluate treatment programs offered in the Tucson, Arizona community. Specifically, the model was used to determine if the services offered in Tucson would help women overcome barriers to treatment.