This poster reports on a small qualitative, NIH-funded study documenting and assessing the problematic experiences of older, poor, foreign-born, multicultural female patients in their interactions with healthcare professionals in the US. The study consisted of interviews with 30 women--one-third Asian (Korean and Vietnamese); one-third Hispanic (Central and South American); and one-third African-born and African-American. Length of residence in the US ranged from 5 to 35 years. All were Maryland residents. Average age of informants was 72. All had incomes below $15,000 a year and most were SSA recipients. Interviews utilized a semi-structured, open-ended format. Standard techniques of qualitative data analysis were applied. When necessary, interviews were conducted with the aid of a translator, and audio tapes were later translated into English. Questions concerned immigration and resettlement experiences; family support; health status and syptomatology; health knowledge and self-care; interactions with physicians and other healthcare professionals; and patients' self-efficacy in handling negative experiences. Basic sociodemographic and ADL data were also collected. The poster presents findings from the study. Unmet needs and negative health experiences were numerous, including perceived and actual poor quality of medical diagnosis and treatment; providers' attributions of numerous health complaints to old age and therefore untreatable; providers' inadequate explanations of conditions diagnosed, drugs prescribed, and tests ordered; and patients' perceived lack of power in the healthcare relationship, which impeded their ability to pursue unanswered questions and effectively manage care decisions. The poster presents summaries and detailed case narratives of those experiences.
Learning Objectives: By attending this presentation, the participant will be able to: (1) Identify the nature, origin, and impact of healthcare professionals' problematic interactions with older, poor, foreign-born, multicultural female patients. (2) Identify at least 5 improvements that must be made to increase the interpersonal and cultural competence of healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, in the diagnosis and treatment of older, poor, foreign-born, multicultural female patients.
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Minority Health
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.