Factors affecting the choice of hospital based ambulatory care by the urban poor

T.J. Skinner, B.S. Price, D.W. Scott and G.A. Gorry

American Journal of Public Health, 1977, vol. 67, issue 5, 439-445

Abstract: This study of patients in the outpatient department at an urban hospital revealed that almost all could have reached a neighborhood center in less time and only a small number came to the hospital rather than a neighborhood center out of medical necessity. When the patients were asked about their willingness to obtain treatment at a neighborhood center, 48% were willing, 52% were not. These responses did not vary by demographic or medical characteristics but rather by the patients' stated priorities regarding medical care. 80% of those willing to change sites stressed convenience of access as a first priority compared with only 17% of those not willing to change. Emphasis on quality of care (45%) or on familiarity with the site (37%) distinguished the group not willing to change. The findings suggest that successfull efforts to persuage patients to utilize a neighborhood center must base their persuade on patients' individual priorities.

Date: 1977
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1977:67:5:439-445_5

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().