Compliance with recommendations for follow-up care in Latinos: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine rates of follow-up eye and health care in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES), a population-based sample of Latinos.


METHODS
Participants received a complete ophthalmic examination and were referred to a local healthcare provider for follow-up care, if ocular or systemic disease was found. Participants receiving referrals were later contacted by telephone and interviewed in their language of choice (English or Spanish) by a trained bilingual interviewer, to determine follow-up rates, and to discuss the barriers preventing follow-up care.


RESULTS
Of 430 referred participants, 335 (78%) completed the follow-up survey; 278 (68%) of the responders obtained follow-up care. Among the 108 (32%) individuals who did not seek follow-up care, 54 (50%) cited cost of care as the main reason, while 30 (28%) indicated a lack of knowledge as to where to go for care, and 18 (17%) indicated the unavailability of health care. Logistic regression analyses (controlling for acculturation, co-morbid conditions, and patients' prior knowledge of their diagnoses) revealed that participants with insurance coverage, diagnosis with a systemic disease, and higher educational level were more likely to have received follow-up care.


CONCLUSIONS
More than two thirds of the participants reported seeking the recommended follow-up care. Although cost, availability of services, and convenience of accessing care were found to be major barriers to obtaining health care, higher education, insurance coverage, and prior knowledge of the disease, were associated with receiving recommended care. Knowledge of barriers to seeking health care is important when developing community based healthcare programs directed toward the Latino population.
Unzueta
Miguel
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Globe
Denise
D
Wu
Joanne
J
Paz
Sylvia
S
Azen
Stanley
S
Varma
Rohit
R
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors