This study aims to evaluate the expectation of and need for psychological counselling among primary care attender in a practice where the majority of patients are of Asian origin.

All consecutive adult patients attending 10 surgeries per week (assess 20 patients per surgery) asked to participate in the study. Patients were asked to complete 2 questionnaires:

1. 1. Demographic data

2. 2. Acculturation

In one month period 127 patients completed two questionnaires.

About 60% of Asian patient preferred to talk to either general practitioner or friend or relative whereas half of the European patient preferred to talk to GP and only 2 would talk to a friend or relative. 15% of Asian preferred to see male professional, but 60% of European preferred the same. Similar number reported that if they were suffering from anxiety or depression they would prefer taking tablets from their general practitioner. 25% of Asian preferred to see a counsellor or therapist of their own background whereas 40% of European patient preferred the same.

There is very little information, if any, on ethnic minority views about the type of services they would like to receive. This study has demonstrated that there is unmet needs with regards to gender and preference for professional from similar ethnic background. There is a need to merge patient need and preference in an efficacious manner also for the services to change and develop in a planned and efficacious consumer lead rather than provider lead.