scholarly journals Patient-physician communication about financial problems: A cross-sectional study among over-indebted individuals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Warth ◽  
Marie-Therese Puth ◽  
Ulrike Zier ◽  
Niklas Beckmann ◽  
Johannes Porz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Financial Distress ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Physician Communication ◽  
Financial Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health

Abstract Background About every tenth household across Europe is unable to meet payment obligations and living expenses on an ongoing basis and is thus considered over-indebted. Previous research suggests that over-indebtedness reflects a potential cause and consequence of psychosomatic health problems and limited access to health care. However, it is unclear whether those affected discuss their financial problems with general practitioners that often serve as patients’ initial medical contact. Therefore, this study examined patient-physician communication about financial problems in general practice among over-indebted individuals. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among clients of 70 debt advice agencies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 2017. We assessed the prevalence of patient-physician communication about financial problems and its association with patient characteristics using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Of 699 individuals who returned the questionnaire (response rate: 50.2%), we included 598 respondents enrolled in statutory health insurance with complete outcome data in the analyses. Results Less than one fourth of respondents had ever discussed financial problems with their general practitioner (n=135; 22.6%). Individuals with a high educational level were less likely to communicate about financial problems compared to those with medium educational level (aOR 0.11; 95% CI 0.01-0.83) after adjustment for other sociodemographic characteristics, health status and measures of financial distress. Those without a migrant background (aOR 2.09; 95% CI 1.32-3.32), the chronically ill (aOR 1.90; 95% CI 1.16-3.13) and individuals who reported high financial distress (aOR 2.15; 95% CI 1.22-3.78) and cutting on necessities to pay for medications (aOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.12-3.09) were more likely to report communication than their counterparts after adjustment. Conclusions Few over-indebted individuals discussed financial problems with their general practitioner. The findings suggest that patients’ health status, coping strategies and perception of financial distress might contribute to variations in disclosure of financial problems. Thus, enhancing communication and screening by routine assessment of financial problems in clinical practice can help to identify vulnerable patients and promote access to health care and social services and well-being for all.

scholarly journals Perceived Access to Health Care Services and Relevance of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7661
Author(s):  
Lukas Reitzle ◽  
Christian Schmidt ◽  
Francesca Färber ◽  
Lena Huebl ◽  
Lothar Heinz Wieler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Perceived Access ◽  
The Impact

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, non-pharmaceutical interventions were imposed to contain the spread of the virus. Based on cross-sectional waves in March, July and December 2020 of the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO), the present study investigated the impact of the introduced measures on the perceived access to health care. Additionally, for the wave in December, treatment occasion as well as utilization and satisfaction regarding telemedicine were analysed. For 18–74-year-old participants requiring medical care, descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. During the less strict second lockdown in December, participants reported more frequently ensured access to health care (91.2%) compared to the first lockdown in March (86.8%), but less frequently compared to July (94.2%) during a period with only mild restrictions. In December, main treatment occasions of required medical appointments were check-up visits at the general practitioner (55.2%) and dentist (36.2%), followed by acute treatments at the general practitioner (25.6%) and dentist (19.0%), treatments at the physio-, ergo- or speech therapist (13.1%), psychotherapist (11.9%), and scheduled hospital admissions or surgeries (10.0%). Of the participants, 20.0% indicated utilization of telemedical (15.4% telephone, 7.6% video) consultations. Of them, 43.7% were satisfied with the service. In conclusion, for the majority of participants, access to medical care was ensured during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, access slightly decreased during phases of lockdown. Telemedicine complemented the access to medical appointments.

Disparities in Access to Health Care and Health Status Between Documented and Undocumented Mexican Immigrants in North Texas

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ximena Urrutia-Rojas ◽  
Khiya Marshall ◽  
Elizabeth Trevino ◽  
Sue Gena Lurie ◽  
Guadalupe Minguia-Bayona
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
North Texas ◽  
Access To Health

Susceptibility to Environmental Pollutants among Minorities

1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 797-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Rios ◽  
Gerald V. Poje ◽  
Roger Detels
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Health Care Education ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Genetic Makeup

Susceptibility to environmental pollutants involves both biological and nonbiobgical factors. Individuals belonging to minority groups are much more likely to be subject to a number of these factors. This paper examines biological susceptibility of minorities to environmental pollutants and provides specific examples of susceptibility resulting from: genetic makeup; occupation; other factors such as compromised health status, exposure to mixtures of pollutants, substance abuse, and unemployment; and social inequality of access to health care, education, and communication skills. Recommendations are made for specific actions and for additional studies.

scholarly journals The role of psychosocial determinants in predicting adherence to treatment in patient with hypertension

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Asgari ◽  
Hamid Bouraghi ◽  
Ali Mohammadpour ◽  
Mina Haghighat ◽  
Raheleh Ghadiri
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Correlation Study ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Treatment Access ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health

Introduction Non-adherence in patients with hypertension directly exacerbates clinical outcomes. The purpose of the present research is to study the recognition of the relationships between the perceived social support and self-efficacy and the satisfaction of health care agents and the interaction of the patient with therapeutic personnel and access to health care and the behaviors of adherence to treatment in the patients who suffer hypertension. Materials and methods This descriptive cross-sectional correlation study recruited 250 patients from a specialized hypertension clinic in Semnan, who completed the following questionnaires: Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, self-efficacy, adherence to treatment, access to and satisfaction with health care, and the patient’s interaction with treatment personnel. Results An overall statistical description of the sample consists of 89 (35.6%) men and 161 (64.4%) women (SD = 10.41, range = 51.98). Regression coefficient of previous variables (three steps) shows that self-efficacy share, consent form civil services, and job could demonstrate with 99% certainty in the changes of treatment conformity in a meaningful way. Conclusions High self-efficacy, satisfaction with health care, and a favorable job have a high direct effect on adherence to treatment in patients with hypertension and controlling hypertension. Social support and education do not have a significant impact on adherence to treatment.

Health Status and Access to Health Care of Documented and Undocumented Immigrant Latino Women

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 916-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khiya J. Marshall ◽  
Ximena Urrutia-Rojas ◽  
Francisco Soto Mas ◽  
Claudia Coggin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Undocumented Immigrant ◽  
Latino Women ◽  
Access To Health

Health status and access to health care of British nationals living on the Costa Blanca, Spain

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL LA PARRA ◽  
MIGUEL ANGEL MATEO
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
British Home

ABSTRACTThe aims of this paper are to review the health status of British nationals living on the Costa Blanca in the Province of Alicante, Spain, and to examine their access to health-care services. A sample of 155 of those that spent over three months a year in the area was interviewed. The results for those aged 45 or more years have been compared with those of the Health Survey for England 2003, the British Household Panel Survey 2004, the National Health Survey for Spain 2003, and the Spanish Household Panel Survey 2000. British nationals resident on the Costa Blanca appear to have a similar health profile to the Spanish and the British populations, and score higher than Spaniards and the British home population on some indicators: they have, for example, fewer mobility problems and a more positive perception of their state of health. These findings are consistent with the ‘healthy migrant hypothesis’. The Valencia Region Health Service provides health-care services to 62 per cent of this population. The total number of British residents' visits to a general practitioner is approximately the same as that of their Spanish neighbours. As for admissions to hospital, British residents on the Costa Blanca show trends similar to the population of the United Kingdom. The use of private health-care is relatively high, compared to the Spanish and the British populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document