Access to medical care, use of preventive services, and chronic conditions among adults in substance abuse treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have examined access to a regular source of medical care and preventive medical care among adults being treated for substance abuse. This report describes the prevalence of a usual source of care, use of preventive care services, and self-reported chronic conditions among adults in a publicly funded substance abuse treatment program.


METHODS
The investigators partnered with a large behavioral health organization in Los Angeles County to conduct an interviewer-administered survey during June 2008.


RESULTS
A total of 254 clients completed the survey. Fifty percent reported having a usual source of medical care, and 70% reported at least one visit to a physician within the prior 12 months. Participants reported low receipt of most preventive care screening measures. Half had at least one chronic condition, with hypertension, asthma, and arthritis most often reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this middle-aged sample with substantial medical need reported having access to care, receipt of preventive care was low and unaddressed health concerns were reported.
Benjamin-Johnson
Rhondee
R
Division of General Internal Medicine , University of California,Los Angeles, 911 Broxton Ave., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. rbjohnson@mednet.ucla.edu
Moore
Alison
A
Gilmore
Jim
J
Watkins
Katherine
K
D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data