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Health problems and service utilization in the homeless
N Sachs-Ericsson1, E Wise, C P Debrody
1Florida State University, Department of Psychology, Tallahassee 32306-1270, USA.
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
|December 3, 1999
Summary
Homeless individuals frequently seek medical care for recurring issues, often exacerbated by factors like smoking. This highlights a need for better preventive services and community-based care to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Social Medicine
Background:
- Homeless populations face significant health challenges.
- Understanding their healthcare utilization is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the health problems and medical service utilization patterns of homeless individuals in a southern community.
- To identify potential gaps in preventive care and areas of overutilization.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 292 homeless individuals seeking medical services.
- Data collection on reported health problems and past medical service usage.
Main Results:
- 72.6% of medical issues were recurring problems.
- Upper respiratory infections were most prevalent (47%), linked to high smoking rates (73%).
- Over 51.4% used other medical services in the prior month, with potential overuse of emergency services for non-emergencies.
Conclusions:
- Homeless individuals may underutilize preventive care, seeking treatment only for serious conditions.
- Community-based, tailored services could improve care efficiency and reduce costs for the homeless population.