Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #159885

Katherine Flores, MD¹, John A. Capitman, PhD², Andrew A. Alvarado, EdD³, Marlene Bengiamin, PhD⁴, Suzanne Kotkin-Jaszi, DrPH⁵, Helda L. Pinzon-Perez, PhD, CHES, RN⁶, and Mathilda B. Ruwe, MD, MPH, PhD². (1) Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, 550 East Shaw Avenue, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno, CA 93710, (2) California State University-Fresno, Central Valley Health Policy Institute, 1625 E Shaw, Ave., Suite 146, Fresno, CA 93710, (3) Latino Center for Medical Education and Rsearch, 550 East Shaw aVneue, Suite 210, Fresno, CA 93710, (4) Central Valley Health Policy Institute, California State University, Fresno, 1625 E. Shaw Ave, Suite 146, Fresno, CA 93704, (5) Health Science Department, California State University, 2345 East San Ramon Avenue, MS M/H 30, Fresno, CA 93740-8031, 5592785387, skotkin@csufresno.edu, (6) Department of Health Science, California State University, Fresno, 2345 East San Ramon Ave M/S MH 30, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740-8031

In order to model an approach to addressing disparities in access to care and utilization of health care services, the University of California, San Francisco, Latino Center for Health Education and Research,in collaboration with the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at California State University, Fresno, developed a demonstration and evaluation of an educational intervention. The feasibility and effectiveness of a culturally-tailored health care access and use education program for Hispanic adults and elders in California's San Joaquin Valley was studied. The educational program was provided by specially trained co-ethnic promotoras (indigenous lay health advisors). The primary goal of the research was to understand if a culturally-tailored educational intervention improves a) knowledge and attitudes with respect to enrollment and utilization of Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP programs, b) knowledge and attitudes about covered preventive services and age-appropriate utilization and c) health literacy. The study also sought to explore the feasibility of recruiting and training promotoras as effective communicators of information about Medicaid and Medicare enrollment and the appropriate use of health care.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe disparities in access to care and health insurance coverage for Latino's in California's Central Valley.
• To explore the feasiblity of training promotoras (indigenous lay health advisors) to help clients enroll in Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP.
• To report preliminary results from the focus group finding concerning the utility of promotoras improving knowledge and attitudes relative to health insurance, health care access and preventive care.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.