ERIC Number: EJ1095964
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Apr
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Promoting Health by Addressing Basic Needs: Effect of Problem Resolution on Contacting Health Referrals
Thompson, Tess; Kreuter, Matthew W.; Boyum, Sonia
Health Education & Behavior, v43 n2 p201-207 Apr 2016
Members of vulnerable populations have heightened needs for health services. One advantage of integrating health risk assessment and referrals into social service assistance systems such as 2-1-1 is that such systems help callers resolve problems in other areas (e.g., housing). Callers to 2-1-1 in Missouri (N = 1,090) with at least one behavioral risk factor or cancer screening need were randomly assigned to one of three health referral interventions: verbal referrals only, verbal referrals + a tailored mailed reminder, or verbal referrals + telephone health navigator. After 1 month, we assessed whether the nonhealth problems that prompted the 2-1-1 call had been resolved. Logistic regression estimated effects of having the problem resolved on calling a health referral. Callers were predominantly female (85%) and had a high school education or less (61%); nearly half (47%) had incomes under $10,000. The most common service requests were for utility assistance (35%), home/family problems (23%), and rent/mortgage assistance (12%). At follow-up, 38% of callers reported that all problems prompting their 2-1-1 call had been resolved, and 24% reported calling a health referral. Resolving all problems prompting the 2-1-1 call was associated with a higher odds of contacting a health referral (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [1.02, 2.05]) compared to people whose problems were not resolved. Multifaceted interventions that help meet non-health-related needs and provide support in reaching health-related goals may promote health in vulnerable populations.
Descriptors: At Risk Persons, Access to Health Care, Social Services, Community Information Services, Help Seeking, Behavior Problems, Cancer, Intervention, Verbal Communication, Printed Materials, Telecommunications, Regression (Statistics), Gender Differences, Educational Attainment, Income, Problem Solving, Referral
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Missouri
Grant or Contract Numbers: P50CA095815
Author Affiliations: N/A