Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Use of Primary Care Providers and Preventive Health Services at a Midwestern University.
Many universities seek to improve the health and wellbeing of their faculty and staff through employer wellness programs but racial/ethnic disparities in health care use may still persist. The purpose of this research was to identify racial/ethnic disparities in the use of preventive health services at a Midwestern university. A record review was conducted of self-reported health data from University employees, examining the use of primary care and common screening procedures collected in a Personal Health Assessment conducted by the University's wellness program. Results show that there were significant racial/ethnic differences in the use of primary care and participation in screening. Notably, Asian employees in this sample were less likely to have a primary care provider and participate in routine cancer screenings. The observed racial/ethnic differences in screening behavior were mediated by the use of primary care. Together, these data show that despite equal access to care, racial and ethnic disparities in screening persist and that having a primary care provider is an important predictor of screening behavior. Results suggest that health communications designed to increase screening among specific racial/ethnic minority groups should target primary care use.
School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA. focellae@uwosh.edu.
Elizabeth S
ES
Focella
School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Victoria A
VA
Shaffer
School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Erin A
EA
Dannecker
School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Mary J
MJ
Clark
School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Laura H
LH
Schopp
D005006:Ethnicity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011320:Primary Health Care; D044469:Racial Groups; D014495:Universities
Cancer screening; Disease prevention; Employee wellness programs; Primary care; Racial and ethnic disparities