Health-seeking challenges among homeless youth.
BACKGROUND
Approximately 1.5 to 2 million homeless young persons live on the streets in the United States. With the current economic situation, research is needed on quality of services geared toward homeless young adults.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore homeless young adults' perspectives on barriers and facilitators of health-care-seeking behavior and their perspectives on improving existing programs for homeless persons.


METHODS
This article is a descriptive qualitative study using focus groups, with a purposeful sample of 24 homeless drug-using young adults.


RESULTS
Identified themes were failing access to care based on perceived structural barriers (limited clinic sites, limited hours of operation, priority health conditions, and long wait times) and social barriers (perception of discrimination by uncaring professionals, law enforcement, and society in general).


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide insight into programmatic and agency resources that facilitate health-seeking behaviors among homeless young adults and include implications for more research with providers of homeless health and social services.
Hudson
Angela L
AL
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. anyamath@sonnet.ucla.edu
Nyamathi
Adeline
A
Greengold
Barbara
B
Slagle
Alexandra
A
Koniak-Griffin
Deborah
D
Khalilifard
Farinaz
F
Getzoff
Daniel
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
JAMA. 2001 Jan 10;285(2):200-6
11176814
J Adolesc Health. 2003 Apr;32(4):253-6
12667728
J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2008 Aug;21(3):154-63
18667048
J Adv Nurs. 1989 Apr;14(4):281-90
2661620
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2006 Jun;30(3):281-5
16800208
J Adolesc Health. 2008 Jun;42(6):549-54
18486863
J Adv Nurs. 2002 Jan;37(2):166-72
11851784
Implement Sci. 2009 Mar 31;4:17
19335915
J Adolesc Health. 2003 Jun;32(6 Suppl):53-69
12782444
Circulation. 2009 May 19;119(19):2633-42
19451365
J Adolesc Health. 1999 Jun;24(6):449-58
10401975
Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2008 Dec;29(12):1277-89
19052945
Br J Gen Pract. 2006 Apr;56(525):286-93
16611519
Prim Care. 2006 Jun;33(2):285-303
16713763
Health Serv Res. 2004 Aug;39(4 Pt 1):695-707
15230923
J Health Psychol. 2007 Sep;12(5):737-49
17855459
Pediatrics. 2008 Jan;121 Suppl 1:S55-62
18174322
J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Jul;22(7):1011-7
17415619
Public Health Nurs. 2008 Sep-Oct;25(5):420-30
18816359
Med Care. 2002 Jun;40(6):510-20
12021677
Qual Health Res. 2004 Nov;14(9):1239-54
15448298
J Adolesc Health. 2006 May;38(5):536-43
16635764
J Adolesc Health. 2000 Nov;27(5):331-9
11044705
J Health Psychol. 2007 Sep;12(5):726-36
17855458
Qual Health Res. 2007 Nov;17(9):1232-44
17968040
Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 2001 Oct-Dec;24(4):225-40
11769208
Soc Sci Med. 2009 Mar;68(5):824-31
19157665
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Oct;161(10):986-93
17909143
J Adolesc Health. 2006 May;38(5):624-7
16635781
Adolescence. 2006 Summer;41(162):221-34
16981613