Black-white differences in health perceptions among the indigent.
Two studies were conducted that assessed health perceptions and functional health status among an urban, low-income population in the southeastern region of the United States. The first study was conducted with 176 hospitalized indigent patients prior to discharge from a county hospital. Patients were administered the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health status questionnaire and two additional questions regarding perceptions of health. The second study was conducted in the same geographic region with a nonhospitalized, low-income population. The SF-36 was administered by telephone to 546 randomly selected interview respondents. The results demonstrated consistent differences between black and white respondents in referents for self-perceived health. It is suggested that health expectations and perceptions may be indicative of the cultural, contextual, and social-political factors that affect the lives of this urban, low income population. The validity of global single-item health indicators for use among low-income populations is questioned. Further research is needed to develop patient-based measures that accurately reflect the meanings and values of low-income patient groups.
Larson
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CO
Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Health Department Division of Evaluation, TN, USA.
Colangelo
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Goods
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K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*