Use of community-based participatory research techniques in identify and assessing health-care access indicators within a community setting

A community assessment of the overall quality of life was conducted using community-based research techniques. In assessing quality of life, access to health-care was identified as an important health indicator. The 2006 assessment used data from an assessment survey completed by 643 community members (42% response rate and a sampling error of 3.8%) and existing/secondary data from national, state, and local sources including results from a similar assessment conducted in 2001 within the same community. Six percent of adults (under 65 years of age) and 2% of seniors (65 years and older) reported having difficulty in obtaining needed health-care services in a timely manner with a lack of an available health-care provider as the primary reason. Six percent of adults and 3% of seniors stated that they were unable to obtain needed medication during the past 12 months with the primary reason being a lack of drug coverage. In assessing access to oral health care, 7% of adults and 4% of seniors stated they were unable to obtain dental care in a timely manner with a lack of dental insurance being the primary reason. A five year average of uninsured individuals seen in the emergency department of the local hospital was 20%. Based on these findings, it is important to note the need to assess access to health-care services and the reasons for not being able to obtain care in a timely manner. Findings may be used to develop interventions to assist those needing and not receiving health care services.