Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rosebud L. Foster, EdD, MSN¹, Ayleen A. Godreau, MD, MPH¹, Allyson Hall, PhD², Piyush Agrawal, EdD³, and Steven B. Zucker, DMD, MEd¹. (1) Health Professions Division/Public Health Department, Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Terry Building, Suite 1588, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, 954-262-1588, rosebud@nsu.nova.edu, (2) College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, PO Box 100185, Gainesville, FL 32611, (3) State of Florida RED Advisory Committee, APS Technologies, Inc., 1625 Eagle Bend, Weston, FL 33327

INTRODUCTION: The Institute of Medicine (2003) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (2000) reports indicate that racial and ethnic disparities in health care have persisted and even increased in recent years. Despite significant improvement in health status, Florida's medically underserved communities continue to have higher age-adjusted death rates.

OBJECTIVE: To examine areas where public awareness, public education, research, coordination, and assessment of access and transportation issues regarding racial and ethnic health outcome disparities are lacking among populations in Florida; how to close gaps in health outcomes.

METHODS: Descriptive survey of Florida's communities using convenience samples was conducted on racial and ethnic minority groups' access to health care that included health care providers, key stakeholders, and individual users of community health services. Participants included Black, Hispanics, Haitian, Asian and low income minorities.

RESULTS: Stakeholders and individual users of services indicated barriers in access to dental some federally funded or private health insurance coverage. About 28% have seen a physician in the last two years; almost 50% of respondents, Haitians (62%), Hisp (52%), Asians (40%), and AA (34%) have difficulty obtaining specialty care referrals; a majority would increase use of public transportation if buses ran more often.

CONCLUSIONS: Minorities and low-income groups contend with cultural barriers, lack awareness, knowledge, and education about available resources, and lack of geographic access and knowledge about the availability of services; an insufficient number of health care providers, including major barriers to print, radio, television media dissemination, and a lack of cost of health insurance.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the process utilized in planning and assessing the health status of racial and ethnic minority groups and the resulting outcomes;
• understand the effective use of data to impact a reduction in health disparities and improve outcomes in at risk communities.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered