title: The role of social marketing in understanding access to primary health care services: perceptions and experiences.
abstract: Using the concept of social marketing, this study examined the determinants of access to primary health care services in order to better understand the perceived access problems and unmet service needs of an entire city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Consistent with previous research, lack of access to health insurance coverage represents an important financial barrier to access to health care services in this community. This study also highlights the role of perceived need in explaining the presence or absence of a physician consultation.While increased attention to access issues at the national level is important, there also needs to be more emphasis on collecting local data for local decision-making regarding access issues.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Health Care Administration, King's College, 133 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, USA.
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Healey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003256:Community Participation; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D040241:Social Marketing; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires