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Patients Utilizing a Free Clinic: Physical and Mental Health, Health Literacy, and Social Support

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Abstract

This cross sectional study assessed the physical and mental health, health literacy and social support of the uninsured utilizing a free clinic to develop intervention programs and research projects to improve the health of free clinic patients. Free clinics are nonprofit organizations that provide underserved and uninsured individuals access to a broad array of free or low cost healthcare services. English or Spanish speaking patients (N = 187) aged 18 years or older completed a self-administered survey. Physical, mental and oral health, health literacy, and social support were measured using standardized instruments. Eighty-two participants (45 US born and 37 non-US born) chose the English version of the survey (English speakers) while 105 participants (2 US born and 103 non-US born) chose the Spanish version (Spanish speakers). Overall, both the physical and mental health functioning of the participants was lower than that of the US general population. The participants reported being moderately depressed. US-born English speakers reported the poorest physical and mental health while Spanish speakers reported the best physical health and the lowest level of depression. A higher level of health literacy was associated with better physical health functioning, whereas reporting higher social support was associated with better mental health functioning and less severe depression. Because most free clinics have limited resources, developing services and programs that fit free clinics’ circumstances are needed. Our study finding indicates that health literacy education, mental health services, and social support are key services needed by free clinic patients to achieve better health.

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Acknowledgments

This project was partially funded by the College of Social and Behavioral Science, University of Utah (PI: Dr. Akiko Kamimura). The authors want to thank the patients who participated in this study and acknowledge the contribution of the staff and volunteers of the Maliheh Free Clinic. In addition, we thank Yen Cao, Lincoln Neugebauer, Andra Thomas, Nga Tran, and Andrea Genovesi for their help in data collection and entry. We also thank Justine Reel and Larry Cook for their insightful input.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 380 S 1530 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Akiko Kamimura & Jennifer Tabler

  2. Maliheh Free Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Nancy Christensen & Jeanie Ashby

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Lenora M. Olson

Authors
  1. Akiko Kamimura
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  2. Nancy Christensen
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  3. Jennifer Tabler
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  4. Jeanie Ashby
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  5. Lenora M. Olson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akiko Kamimura.

Additional information

Human Participants Protection: The University of Utah Institutional Review Board approved this study.

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Kamimura, A., Christensen, N., Tabler, J. et al. Patients Utilizing a Free Clinic: Physical and Mental Health, Health Literacy, and Social Support. J Community Health 38, 716–723 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9669-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9669-x

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