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Miller JP, Hutton J, Doherty C, Vallesi S, Currie J, Rushworth K, Larkin M, Scott M, Morrow J, Wood L. A scoping review examining patient experience and what matters to people experiencing homelessness when seeking healthcare. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:492. [PMID: 38643146 PMCID: PMC11031864 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10971-8] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homelessness is associated with significant health disparities. Conventional health services often fail to address the unique needs and lived experience of homeless individuals and fail to include participatory design when planning health services. This scoping review aimed to examine areas of patient experience that are most frequently reported by people experiencing homelessness when seeking and receiving healthcare, and to identify existing surveys used to measure patient experience for this cohort. METHODS A scoping review was undertaken reported according to the PRISMA-ScR 2020 Statement. Databases were searched on 1 December 2022: MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsychINFO and CINAHL. Included studies focused on people experiencing homelessness, healthcare services and patient experience, primary research, published in English from 2010. Qualitative papers and findings were extracted and synthesized against a modified framework based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for care for people experiencing homelessness, the Institute of Medicine Framework and Lachman's multidimensional quality model. People with lived experience of homelessness were employed as part of the research team. RESULTS Thirty-two studies were included. Of these, 22 were qualitative, seven quantitative and three mixed methods, from the United States of America (n = 17), United Kingdom (n = 5), Australia (n = 5) and Canada (n = 4). Health services ranged from primary healthcare to outpatient management, acute care, emergency care and hospital based healthcare. In qualitative papers, the domains of 'accessible and timely', 'person-centred', and values of 'dignity and respect' and 'kindness with compassion' were most prevalent. Among the three patient experience surveys identified, 'accessible and timely' and 'person-centred' were the most frequent domains. The least frequently highlighted domains and values were 'equitable' and 'holistic'. No questions addressed the 'safety' domain. CONCLUSIONS The Primary Care Quality-Homeless questionnaire best reflected the priorities for healthcare provision that were highlighted in the qualitative studies of people experiencing homelessness. The most frequently cited domains and values that people experiencing homelessness expressed as important when seeking healthcare were reflected in each of the three survey tools to varying degrees. Findings suggest that the principles of 'Kindness and compassion' require further emphasis when seeking feedback on healthcare experiences and the domains of 'safety', 'equitable', and 'efficiency' are not adequately represented in existing patient experience surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennie Hutton
- St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, Northern Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | | | - Jane Currie
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | | | - Matthew Scott
- St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Lived Experience Representative, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James Morrow
- Lived Experience Representative, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lisa Wood
- The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, Australia
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Varley A, Montgomery AE, Steward J, Stringfellow E, Austin E, Gordon A, Pollio D, deRussy A, Hoge A, Gelberg L, Riggs K, Kim TW, Rubens SL, Kertesz S. Exploring Quality of Primary Care for Patients Who Experience Homelessness and the Clinicians Who Serve Them: What Are Their Aspirations? QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:865-879. [PMID: 31894725 PMCID: PMC9271358 DOI: 10.1177/1049732319895252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
To develop and evaluate an effective model of patient-centered, high-quality, homeless-focused primary care, our team explored key domains of primary care that may be important to patients. We anchored our conceptual framework in two reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that defined components of primary care and quality of care. Using questions developed from this framework, we conducted semistructured interviews with 36 homeless-experienced individuals with past-year primary care engagement and 24 health care professionals (clinicians and researchers) who serve homeless-experienced patients in the primary care setting. Template analysis revealed factors important to this population. These included stigma, respect, and perspectives on patient control of medical decision-making in regard to both pain and addiction. For patients experiencing homelessness, the results suggest that quality primary care may have different meanings for patients and professionals, and that services should be tailored to meet homeless-specific needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson Varley
- Birmingham VA Medical Center
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | | | | | - Erin Stringfellow
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis
| | - Erika Austin
- Birmingham VA Medical Center
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kevin Riggs
- Birmingham VA Medical Center
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | | | | | - Stefan Kertesz
- Birmingham VA Medical Center
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
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O'Carroll A, Wainwright D. Making sense of street chaos: an ethnographic exploration of homeless people's health service utilization. Int J Equity Health 2019; 18:113. [PMID: 31337407 PMCID: PMC6651952 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-019-1002-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Homeless people have poor health and mortality indices. Despite this they make poor usage of health services. This study sought to understand why they use health services differently from the domiciled population. Methods Ethnographic observations were conducted at several homeless services, in Dublin. This was supplemented with 47 semi-structured interviews with homeless people and two focus groups of homeless people and hospital doctors. A critical-realist approach was adopted for interpretation of the data. Results Homeless people tended to present late in their illness; default early from treatment; have low usage of primary-care, preventative and outpatient services; have high usage of Emergency and Inpatient services; and poor compliance with medication. They tended to avoid psychiatric services. A number of external barriers were identified. These were classified as physical (distance) administrative (application process for medical care; appointments; queues; the management of addiction in hospital; rules of service; and information providing processes); and attitudinal (stigma; differing attitudes as to appropriate use of services. A new form of barrier, Conversations of Exclusion was identified and described. Internalised barriers were identified which were in nature, either cognitive (fatalistic, denial, deferral to future, presumption of poor treatment or discrimination, self blame and survival cognitions) or emotional (fear; embarrassment, hopelessness and poor self-esteem). Generative mechanisms for these factors were identified which either affected participants prior to homelessness (marginalization causing hopelessness, familial dysfunction, substance misuse, fear of authority, illiteracy; mental health; and poor English) or after becoming homeless (homelessness; ubiquity of premature death; substance misuse; prioritization of survival over health; threat of violence; chaotic nature of homelessness; negative experiences of authority; and stigma. Conclusions An explanatory critical realist model integrating the identified generative mechanisms, external and internalised barriers was developed to explain why the Health service Utilization of homeless people differs from the domiciled populations. This new model has implications for health service policy makers and providers in how they design and deliver accessible health services to homeless people.
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Jones AL, Hausmann LRM, Kertesz SG, Suo Y, Cashy JP, Mor MK, Pettey WBP, Schaefer JH, Gordon AJ, Gundlapalli AV. Providing Positive Primary Care Experiences for Homeless Veterans Through Tailored Medical Homes: The Veterans Health Administration's Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams. Med Care 2019; 57:270-278. [PMID: 30789541 PMCID: PMC7773035 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2012, select Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities implemented a homeless-tailored medical home model, called Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (H-PACT), to improve care processes and outcomes for homeless Veterans. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to determine whether H-PACT offers a better patient experience than standard VHA primary care. RESEARCH DESIGN We used multivariable logistic regressions to estimate differences in the probability of reporting positive primary care experiences on a national survey. SUBJECTS Homeless-experienced survey respondents enrolled in H-PACT (n=251) or standard primary care in facilities with H-PACT available (n=1527) and facilities without H-PACT (n=10,079). MEASURES Patient experiences in 8 domains from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems surveys. Domain scores were categorized as positive versus nonpositive. RESULTS H-PACT patients were less likely than standard primary care patients to be female, have 4-year college degrees, or to have served in recent military conflicts; they received more primary care visits and social services. H-PACT patients were more likely than standard primary care patients in the same facilities to report positive experiences with access [adjusted risk difference (RD)=17.4], communication (RD=13.9), office staff (RD=13.1), provider ratings (RD=11.0), and comprehensiveness (RD=9.3). Standard primary care patients in facilities with H-PACT available were more likely than those from facilities without H-PACT to report positive experiences with communication (RD=4.7) and self-management support (RD=4.6). CONCLUSIONS Patient-centered medical homes designed to address the social determinants of health offer a better care experience for homeless patients, when compared with standard primary care approaches. The lessons learned from H-PACT can be applied throughout VHA and to other health care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L. Jones
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT; and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Leslie R. M. Hausmann
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Stefan G. Kertesz
- Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL; and Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
| | - Ying Suo
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT; and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - John P. Cashy
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Maria K. Mor
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Warren B. P. Pettey
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT; and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - James H. Schaefer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Reporting, Analytics, Performance, Improvement and Deployment, Durham, NC
| | - Adam J. Gordon
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT; and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Adi V. Gundlapalli
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT; and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
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Jones AL, Hausmann LRM, Haas GL, Mor MK, Cashy JP, Schaefer JH, Gordon AJ. A national evaluation of homeless and nonhomeless veterans' experiences with primary care. Psychol Serv 2018; 14:174-183. [PMID: 28481602 DOI: 10.1037/ser0000116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Persons who are homeless, particularly those with mental health and/or substance use disorders (MHSUDs), often do not access or receive continuous primary care services. In addition, negative experiences with primary care might contribute to homeless persons' avoidance and early termination of MHSUD treatment. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model aims to address care fragmentation and improve patient experiences. How homeless persons with MHSUDs experience care within PCMHs is unknown. This study compared the primary care experiences of homeless and nonhomeless veterans with MHSUDs receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration's medical home environment, called Patient Aligned Care Teams. The sample included VHA outpatients who responded to the national 2013 PCMH-Survey of Health Care Experiences of Patients (PCMH-SHEP) and had a past-year MSHUD diagnosis. Veterans with evidence of homelessness (henceforth "homeless") were identified through VHA administrative records. PCMH-SHEP survey respondents included 67,666 veterans with MHSUDs (9.2% homeless). Compared with their nonhomeless counterparts, homeless veterans were younger, more likely to be non-Hispanic Black and nonmarried, had less education, and were more likely to live in urban areas. Homeless veterans had elevated rates of most MHSUDs assessed, indicating significant co-occurrence. After controlling for these differences, homeless veterans reported more negative and fewer positive experiences with communication; more negative provider ratings; and more negative experiences with comprehensiveness, care coordination, medication decision-making, and self-management support than nonhomeless veterans. Homeless persons with MHSUDs may need specific services that mitigate negative care experiences and encourage their continuation in longitudinal primary care services. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L Jones
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
| | - Leslie R M Hausmann
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
| | - Gretchen L Haas
- VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
| | - Maria K Mor
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
| | - John P Cashy
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
| | - James H Schaefer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Analytics and Business Intelligence
| | - Adam J Gordon
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VISN4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System
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Development of the Primary Care Quality-Homeless (PCQ-H) instrument: a practical survey of homeless patients' experiences in primary care. Med Care 2014; 52:734-42. [PMID: 25023918 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homeless patients face unique challenges in obtaining primary care responsive to their needs and context. Patient experience questionnaires could permit assessment of patient-centered medical homes for this population, but standard instruments may not reflect homeless patients' priorities and concerns. OBJECTIVES This report describes (a) the content and psychometric properties of a new primary care questionnaire for homeless patients; and (b) the methods utilized in its development. METHODS Starting with quality-related constructs from the Institute of Medicine, we identified relevant themes by interviewing homeless patients and experts in their care. A multidisciplinary team drafted a preliminary set of 78 items. This was administered to homeless-experienced clients (n=563) across 3 VA facilities and 1 non-VA Health Care for the Homeless Program. Using Item Response Theory, we examined Test Information Function (TIF) curves to eliminate less informative items and devise plausibly distinct subscales. RESULTS The resulting 33-item instrument (Primary Care Quality-Homeless) has 4 subscales: Patient-Clinician Relationship (15 items), Cooperation among Clinicians (3 items), Access/Coordination (11 items), and Homeless-specific Needs (4 items). Evidence for divergent and convergent validity is provided. TIF graphs showed adequate informational value to permit inferences about groups for 3 subscales (Relationship, Cooperation, and Access/Coordination). The 3-item Cooperation subscale had lower informational value (TIF<5) but had good internal consistency (α=0.75) and patients frequently reported problems in this aspect of care. CONCLUSIONS Systematic application of qualitative and quantitative methods supported the development of a brief patient-reported questionnaire focused on the primary care of homeless patients and offers guidance for future population-specific instrument development.
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