Continuity of care and unmet needs are usually obtained through patient surveys and needs assessments. This study evaluates continuity of care and unmet needs in various populations of persons living HIV/AIDS using two existing statewide data bases. The HIV and AIDS Reporting System (HARS) contains all persons with a reported (non-anonymous) diagnosis of HIV and/or AIDS, and the Uniform Reporting System (URS) contains client level service utilization reported under the Ryan White Care Act (RWCA) and Early Intervention Program. By matching cases in HARS with URS with common encripted Unique Record Numbers which protect confidentiality, we created groups of matched and unmatched cases. The aggregated matched record includes testing, diagnosis, CD4 counts, service types, and treatment dates as well as socio-demographics, risk factors and insurance coverage. An analysis of demographics, stage of disease and co-morbidities on matched records reveals which sub-populations receive care, are in and out of care, or have unmet needs. We tested hypotheses that people diagnosed simultaneously with both HIV and AIDS have entered the system at a relatively advanced disease stage and receive more services than similar cases already in the system, that substance abusers are in and out of both medical and counseling services, and that people in metropolitan areas of the state have more continuity of care and fewer unmet needs than those in non-metropolitan areas. We also compared sub-populations within the matched and unmatched record sets of unmatched cases to gain more insight into delayed testing and unmet need.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. recognize the value of unduplicated aggregated client level databases 2. evaluate the use of databases in needs assessments and continuity of care 3. apply using aggregated databases to their own needs assessments and research
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Needs Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.