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Clair KS, Bean-Mayberry B, Schweizer CA, Chanfreau C, Jackson L, Than CT, Finley EP, Hamilton A, Farmer MM. Factors Associated with Delayed Care Among Women Veterans Actively Engaged in Primary Care. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2024; 33:604-612. [PMID: 38386795 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2023.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Delaying needed medical care contributes to greater health risks and higher long-term medical costs. Women Veterans with complex medical and mental health needs face increased barriers to timely care access. Objectives: In a sample of women Veterans with recent engagement in Veterans Administration (VA) primary care, we aimed to compare characteristics of women Veterans who delayed care in the past 6 months with those who did not and examine factors associated with self-reported delayed care. Our study aims to inform interventions focused on eliminating health care access disparities among women Veterans. Materials and Methods: An innovation to improve women Veterans' engagement and retention in evidence-based health care for cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction (CV Toolkit) was implemented across five primary care sites within the VA. Women Veterans who were exposed to at least one CV Toolkit component participated in a mailed survey (n = 253). We used multivariate logistic regression to model factors associated with delaying care, including trust in VA providers, positive mental health screening (i.e., positive screen for either depression or anxiety), traumatic experience, self-rated health, and age. Results: Women with any mental health symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-4.74) and women who had experienced a traumatic event (OR 2.61, 95%CI: 1.11-6.14) were significantly more likely to report delaying care. Conclusions: Our study identified high rates of delayed care-over one-third of respondents-among women Veterans with recent primary care engagement. Mental health symptoms were the most common reported reason for delay among those who delayed care. Clinical Trial registration: NCT02991534.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Clair
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bevanne Bean-Mayberry
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - C Amanda Schweizer
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Catherine Chanfreau
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI), VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - LaShawnta Jackson
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Claire T Than
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Erin P Finley
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Alison Hamilton
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Melissa M Farmer
- VA Health Service Research and Development, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Skirbekk H, Magelssen M, Conradsen S. Trust in healthcare before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:863. [PMID: 37170208 PMCID: PMC10173918 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public trust is often advantageous for health authorities during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Norwegian health authorities used the public´s high trust to control the pandemic, resulting in relatively few casualties. METHODS We wanted to describe and compare the Norwegian public trust in GPs, public healthcare, information and treatment in hospitals before and during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, we wanted to investigate the relationship between somatic or mental illness, and trust in GPs and public health information, and to develop a theoretical understanding of the relationship between trust in healthcare institutions, generalised trust and the societal situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed two surveys, the first in December 2019; the second in May 2020, thus providing two snapshots of the Norwegian public's trust in healthcare and healthcare actors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS There was statistically significant increased trust in public healthcare, in treatment at hospital and in information at hospital after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a non-significant rise in trust in GPs. We found that trust in public health information was not related to mental health nor having a chronic, somatic disease. CONCLUSION The findings confirm that the Norwegian public's trust in healthcare and healthcare actors is high. The trust levels are also relatively stable, and even show an increase during the early phases of the pandemic. We suggest that there is a dynamic relationship between trust in public health information, healthcare institutions, generalised trust and a societal crisis situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the GP-patient trust seems less affected by a crisis situation, than the public´s trust in healthcare institutions. This difference may be explained by the relative stability caused by mandates of trust obtained from the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helge Skirbekk
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Undergraduate Studies, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Morten Magelssen
- Centre for Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stein Conradsen
- Faculty of Humanities and Education, Volda University College, Volda, Norway
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Thai A, Johnson KM. Relationship between Perceived Quality of Prenatal Care and Maternal/Infant Health Outcomes. South Med J 2022; 115:893-898. [DOI: 10.14423/smj.0000000000001483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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Rose DE, Oishi SM, Farmer MM, Bean-Mayberry B, Canelo I, Washington DL, Yano EM. Association Between Availability of Women's Health Services and Women Veterans' Care Experiences. Womens Health Issues 2022; 32:623-632. [PMID: 36115812 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have focused on determinants of women's ratings of care experiences in primary care. We assessed associations between availability of women's health services and women veterans' ratings of care experiences. METHODS In a cross-sectional analysis, we linked Fiscal Year 2017 (October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017) survey data from 126 Veterans Health Administration (VA) primary care leaders to 4,254 women veterans' ratings of care from VA's Survey of Health care Experiences of Patients-Patient Centered Medical Home (2017). The dependent variables were ratings of optimal access (appointments, information), care coordination, comprehensiveness (behavioral health assessment), patient-provider communication, and primary care provider. Key independent variables were number of women's health services 1) routinely available all weekday hours (compared with some hours or not available) and 2) available in VA general primary care vs. other arrangements. In multilevel logistic regression models, we adjusted for patient-, facility-, and area-level characteristics. RESULTS A greater number of women's health services routinely available in VA primary care was associated with a higher likelihood of optimal ratings of care coordination (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.10), provider communication (AOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.002-1.16), and primary care provider (AOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13). A greater number of services available in VA primary care was associated with a lower likelihood of optimal ratings for access (AOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION For the most part, routine availability of women's health services in VA primary care clinics enhanced women's health care experiences. These empirical findings offer health care leaders evidence-based approaches for improving women's care experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E Rose
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Sabine M Oishi
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California
| | - Melissa M Farmer
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California
| | - Bevanne Bean-Mayberry
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ismelda Canelo
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California
| | - Donna L Washington
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Policy & Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
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Carlson GC, Than CT, Rose D, Brunner J, Chanfreau-Coffinier C, Canelo IA, Klap R, Bean-Mayberry B, Agrawal A, Hamilton AB, Gerber MR, Yano EM. What Drives Women Veterans' Trust in VA Healthcare Providers? Womens Health Issues 2022; 32:499-508. [PMID: 35367107 PMCID: PMC9522916 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Little is known about women veterans' trust in Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and what factors promote trust in VA providers. We examined provider behaviors and characteristics of women veterans associated with trust in their VA providers. METHODS We used a 2015 survey of women veterans who were routine users of primary care at 12 VA medical centers (n = 1,395). Patient trust in their VA provider was measured on a seven-item scale. We used multiple logistic regression to examine associations of patient-provider communication and gender appropriateness with complete trust in VA provider (100 [complete trust] vs. <100 [less than complete trust]), controlling for patient characteristics. RESULTS On average, 39.7% of women veterans reported complete trust in their VA providers. Those with complete trust reported greater patient-provider communication and gender appropriateness of VA services than those with less-than-complete trust (all ps ≤ .001). In multiple logistic regression models, higher ratings of provider communication (adjusted odds ratio, 2.37), gender-appropriate care (adjusted odds ratio, 1.93), and trauma-sensitive communication (adjusted odds ratios, 1.79-6.08) were associated with a higher likelihood of reporting complete trust in their VA provider. CONCLUSIONS Women veterans reported high levels of trust in their VA providers. Provider communication, gender-appropriate care, and trauma-sensitive communication were associated with greater patient trust. Although it is important to highlight the steps already taken by VA to increase the quality of care for women veterans, current findings suggest that women veterans' trust may be further increased by interventions to improve trauma-informed care by VA providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn C Carlson
- Department of Mental Health, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Claire T Than
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California
| | - Danielle Rose
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California
| | - Julian Brunner
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California
| | - Catherine Chanfreau-Coffinier
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI), Salt Lake City VA Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Ismelda A Canelo
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California
| | - Ruth Klap
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Bevanne Bean-Mayberry
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alpna Agrawal
- Department of Mental Health, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alison B Hamilton
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Megan R Gerber
- Albany Medical College, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, New York
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA Los Angeles HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California; Department of Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
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Ali AM, Young HN. Relationships between Key Functions of Patient-Provider Communication, Trust, and Motivation across White, African American, and Hispanic/Latino Patients with Asthma. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 37:450-456. [PMID: 33198512 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1848758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Patient-provider communication is essential for providing effective care for asthma patients. However, little is known about key functions of communication and their relationships with outcomes in asthma patients across racial/ethnic groups. This study assessed asthma patients' perceptions of key functions of patient-provider communication, and examined associations between key functions, trust, and motivation across racial/ethnic groups. In this study, a sample of 470 US adults responded to an assessment of patient-provider communication, trust, and motivation through an electronically administered survey. Key functions of patient-provider communication included: exchanging information, responding to emotions, making decisions, enabling self-management, managing uncertainty, and fostering relationships. Results showed no differences in the mean scores of key functions of communication across racial/ethnic groups. The key function fostering relationships was positively associated with trust and motivation in both Whites and African Americans. However, the key function making decisions was associated with trust, and the key function managing uncertainty was associated with motivation only for Hispanic/Latinos. Results suggest different cultures may place different values on key functions of communication which may engender trust and motivation. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma M Ali
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia
| | - Henry N Young
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia
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Patients’ knowledge and their trust in surgical doctors. A questionnaire-based study and a theoretical discussion from Norway. SOCIAL THEORY & HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1057/s41285-021-00171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Qi L, Zhou Y, Wang R, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zeng L. Perceived quality of primary healthcare services and its association with institutional trust among caregivers of persons diagnosed with a severe mental illness in China. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2021; 28:394-408. [PMID: 32881201 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT Low utilization of the family-oriented community rehabilitation services is a threatening challenge facing low- and middle- income countries. Family caregiver's trust in community healthcare providers is the precondition of service utilization and is shaped by their perceived quality of primary healthcare services from previous experience. Most of the studies concerning the relationship between perceived quality and institutional trust were conducted in western countries, resulting in limited attention paid to conditions in non-western countries. Which aspect of quality predicts institutional trust in China has not been studied yet. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE In China's context, institutional trust was generally associated with communication, worry relief and risk of privacy leak, but not with technical competence. Significant rural-urban disparity was observed: among rural respondents, institutional trust was associated with technical competence, communication and risk of privacy leak, but not with worry relief; institutional trust was only associated with worry relief in urban respondents. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Mental health nurses training or working with community healthcare workers may improve their technical and communicative competence. Priorities may differ between rural and urban areas. Mental health nurses or community healthcare workers may provide more family-oriented psycho-education to rural families, and more emotional support to urban families. Wider public anti-stigma initiatives are needed to reduce the affiliated stigma of families of persons diagnosed with a severe mental illness. ABSTRACT Introduction Prior studies suggested that caregiver's trust in community healthcare providers is the precondition of the utilization of community-based rehabilitation services and is shaped by their perceived quality of primary healthcare services. Nevertheless, the research conducted in non-western countries is scarce, and which aspect of quality is associated with institutional trust in China has not been studied. Aim To explore the association between perceived quality of primary healthcare services and institutional trust in China's context. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 796 family caregivers from Eastern, Central and Western China between August 2018 and October 2019. Perceived quality of primary healthcare services was measured by technical competence, communication, worry relief and risk of privacy leak. Results Institutional trust was generally associated with communication, worry relief and risk of privacy leak, but not with technical competence. Among rural respondents, institutional trust was associated with technical competence, communication and risk of privacy leak, but not with worry relief. Contrary finding was observed in urban respondents. Discussion and implications for practice With rural-urban disparity considered, strategies such as improving the technical and communicative competence of community healthcare workers, providing family-oriented psycho-education and emotional support, and promoting public anti-stigma initiatives may be worth consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Qi
- School of Health Science and Nursing, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Ruoxi Wang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Research Center for Rural Health Services, Hubei Province Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifeng Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
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Jones AL, Fine MJ, Taber PA, Hausmann LR, Burkitt KH, Stone RA, Zickmund SL. National Media Coverage of the Veterans Affairs Waitlist Scandal: Effects on Veterans' Distrust of the VA Health Care System. Med Care 2021; 59:S322-S326. [PMID: 33976083 PMCID: PMC8121177 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND On April 23, 2014, US media outlets broadcast reports of excessive wait times and "secret" waitlists at some Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, precipitating legislation to increase Veterans' access to private sector health care. OBJECTIVE The aims were to assess changes in Veterans' distrust in the VA health care system before and after the media coverage and explore sex and racial/ethnic differences in the temporal patterns. METHODS Veterans completed semistructured interviews on health care satisfaction from June 2013 to January 2015, including a validated scale of health system distrust (range: 1-5). We used linear splines with knots at 90-day intervals to assess changes in distrust before and after April 23, 2014 ("day 0") in linear mixed models. To explore sex and racial/ethnic differences in temporal patterns, we stratified models by sex and tested for interactions of race/ethnicity with time. RESULTS For women (n=600), distrust scores (mean=2.09) increased by 0.45 in days 0-90 (P<0.01), then decreased by 0.45 in days 90-180 (P<0.01). Among men (n=575), distrust scores (mean=2.05) increased by 0.18 in days 0-90 (P=0.059). Distrust levels were significantly higher for Black versus White women (time adjusted mean difference=0.21) and for Black and Hispanic versus White men (differences=0.26 and 0.18). However, the temporal patterns did not vary by race/ethnicity for women or men (interaction P=0.85 and 0.21, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Health system distrust increased in women following media coverage of VA access problems and was higher in Black/Hispanic versus White Veterans at all time periods. Such perceptions could influence Veteran decisions to seek health care in the community rather than VA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L. Jones
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Michael J. Fine
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Peter A. Taber
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Leslie R.M. Hausmann
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Kelly H. Burkitt
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
| | - Roslyn A. Stone
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
| | - Susan L. Zickmund
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
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Mayo-Smith M, Radwin LE, Abdulkerim H, Mohr DC. Factors Associated With Patient Ratings of Timeliness of Primary Care Appointments. J Patient Exp 2020; 7:1203-1210. [PMID: 33457566 PMCID: PMC7786731 DOI: 10.1177/2374373520968979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As access is the lowest rated dimension in surveys of outpatient experience, we sought to identify patient, practice, and provider factors associated with positive ratings of timeliness of primary care appointments. A cross-sectional study with multivariable, multilevel logistic regression was performed using survey responses from 236 695 individuals receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Top box ratings (response of "always") for whether the patient reported receiving an appointment as soon as they needed in primary care for routine care and for care needed right away were the main outcomes. Independent variables capturing patient, practice, and provider factors were obtained from survey responses and VA databases. Degree of continuity with primary care provider and duration of relationship were strongly associated with higher ratings. Shorter primary care appointment wait times for both new and returning patients were associated with higher ratings. Independent wait times for mental health and specialty appointments had no effect. Older age, better self-reported physical and mental health, lower disease complexity, and rural residence were patient factors associated with higher ratings while gender, race, ethnicity, and education had little effect. Measures of continuity with primary care provider as well as appointment wait times have strong association with positive patient ratings of appointment timeliness. Patients treated in Veterans Affairs clinics may value continuity with their primary care provider over longer times. Initiatives to improve access could focus on improving continuity and ensuring efforts to improve access do not impact continuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mayo-Smith
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
- Center for Primary Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laurel E. Radwin
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hassen Abdulkerim
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C. Mohr
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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