226660 Spatial Dimensions of Health Care Access: Using Community-Based Research Approaches

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

John J. Green, PhD , Division of Social Sciences, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
JoLynn P. Montgomery, MPH, PhD , Office of Public Health Practice, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Roy Grant, MA , The Children's Health Fund, New York, NY
Anna M. Kleiner, PhD , Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
Carley Jefcoat, MSCD , Institute for Community-Based Research, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
Mitch Morris, MPH , Special Projects, Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, Jackson, MS
Background: The development and utilization of geographic information system (GIS) technologies and the parallel development of multi-level statistical analysis tools have brought spatial awareness to research on health and health services. These tools provide the basis for consideration of social, economic and health data at a variety of levels to identify spatial patterns. As strong as these tools are, there is need for field-based mixed-methods research, because they provide rich, place-specific information. Often used separately from more technologically complex approaches to research (such as GIS), community-based approaches are compatible and complimentary. Methods: Diverse data collection methods were used in Mississippi Delta and Gulf Coast communities, including key-informant interviews, focus groups and surveys. In each round of data collection, topics addressed barriers to accessing health care, transportation, socioeconomic resources, and demographic characteristics. Results: Research demonstrates that both regions in Mississippi share similarities, but the people and places are different in a number of ways. Differences include racial/ethnic characteristics of the population, level of rural-urban development, economic base, access to transportation, availability of medical services, and people's socioeconomic resources. Discussion: These results point to the importance of working with people at the community level in determining the nature of the challenges they face around accessing health care and identifying solutions that take place into account. Results may be considered in addition to those drawn from GIS and other technologically intensive methods to provide evidence-based guidance to community organizations for focusing services and obtaining funding to provide these services.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify field research methods complimentary to and compatible with GIS 2. Discuss the community-based approach to field research 3. Compare results obtained from two community studies conducted in Mississippi 4. Assess how field research methods may be incorporated within broader research designs

Keywords: Community Research, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated in key research for this presentation
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.