Ethical considerations in rural health care: a pilot study of clinicians in Alaska and New Mexico.
To investigate differences in the experiences of rural versus non-rural clinicians, we surveyed caregivers in New Mexico and Alaska regarding ethical aspects of care provision. Consistent with past literature, rural compared to non-rural clinicians perceived patients as having less access to health care resources. They reported more interaction with patients and less awkwardness in relationships with their patients outside of work. Rural clinicians also reported their patients expressed more concern about knowing them in both personal and professional roles, had more concerns over confidentiality, and experienced more embarrassment concerning stigmatizing illnesses. Ethical issues and implications of these results for providing care in rural areas are discussed.
Warner
Teddy D
TD
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Institute for Ethics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. twarner@salud.unm.edu
Monaghan-Geernaert
Pamela
P
Battaglia
John
J
Brems
Christiane
C
Johnson
Mark E
ME
Roberts
Laura Weiss
LW
D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000941:ethics*; D003219:Confidentiality; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000941:ethics*; D013240:Stereotyping