Work

2017 Writing Contest Undergraduate Winner: Pathways to Preventable Hospitalizations for Filipino Patients with Diabetes and Heart Disease in Hawai'i.

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Filipinos are one of the fastest growing Asian ethnic groups in the United States, yet little is known about how to specifically address the varying health needs of the Filipino community with diabetes and heart disease. This is a problem because rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) are high for Filipinos with these conditions. A PPH is a hospitalization that could potentially have been avoided with better access to quality primary care. Patients over 21 years of age with heart disease or diabetes and who were hospitalized at the Queen's Medical Center with a PPH were recruited to complete a face-to-face interview eliciting the patients' perspectives on key factors leading to this hospitalization (n=102). This study focused on a subset of Filipino patients (n=21). Two independent coders reviewed interviews to identify factors leading to their PPH. A majority of the Filipino respondents identified social vulnerabilities as the most common factor that led to their hospitalization, including financial challenges, limited social support, and life instability. Many respondents also noted challenges with the healthcare system as precipitating their hospitalization, including poor communication/coordination, management plan issues, and bad experience with their healthcare providers. Cultural and language barriers were also identified by Filipino patients as challenges leading to their hospitalizations. These findings emphasize the importance of considering patients' perspectives of the barriers they face inside and outside of healthcare facilities.

Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)

Authors: Jhon Michael Malabed, Deborah A Taira, Todd B Seto, Kathryn L Braun, Tetine Sentell

Institutions: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaii System, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Queen's Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes Management and Education

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Awards: RCMI Multidisciplinary And Translational Research Infrastructure EXpansion (RAMAT, EXITO: Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Infrastructure and Training at Oregon, The Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research, EXITO: Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Infrastructure and Training at Oregon, Ola HAWAII