[Strategies for accessing primary health care for older people in urban and rural areas.]

Abstract

The article is devoted to the treatment of primary health care among older people living in urban and rural areas. The empirical basis of the research consists of semi-structured interviews conducted with residents of St. Petersburg and villages of the Republic of Karelia. A total of 40 interviews were collected. Using the method of thematic analysis, key strategies for seeking primary health care were identified, as well as the specifics of calling for emergency care and the impact of the place of residence on the subjective experience of seeking primary health care. In the course of the study, three main strategies for seeking primary health care were identified: The strategy of emergency treatment for primary health care involves treatment exclusively in critical situations. The strategy of frequent access to primary health care is characterized by regular interaction with medical institutions. The strategy of therapeutic treatment for primary health care focuses on preventive visits and planned treatment. The results show differences in the frequency and nature of requests depending on the place of residence. Urban residents are more likely to seek primary health care, while in rural areas they apply less regularly. These differences underline the importance of studying the subjective perception of primary health care and the experience of older people in various social and territorial contexts.