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Delays and unmet need for health care among adult primary care patients in a restructured urban public health system.

Diamant AL, Hays RD, Morales LS, Ford W, Calmes D, Asch S, Duan N, Fielder E, Kim S, Fielding J, Sumner G, Shapiro MF, Hayes-Bautista D, Gelberg L. Delays and unmet need for health care among adult primary care patients in a restructured urban public health system. American journal of public health. 2004 May 1; 94(5):783-9.

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Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the prevalence and determinants of delayed and unmet needs for medical care among patients in a restructured public health system. METHODS: We conducted a stratified cross-sectional probability sample of primary care patients in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1819 adult patients in 6 languages. The response rate was 80%. The study sample was racially/ethnically diverse. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent reported delaying needed medical care during the preceding 12 months; 25% reported an unmet need for care because of competing priorities; and 46% had either delayed or gone without care. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to needed health care continue to exist among patients receiving care through a large safety net system. Competing priorities for basic necessities and lack of insurance contribute importantly to unmet health care needs.




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