Work

Examining the Impact of Patient Demographics on Outreach Efforts for a Student-Run LGBTQIA + Free Clinic

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The LGBTQIA + community faces unique health disparities that can lead to severe barriers to care. The Rainbow Clinic is a specialty clinic at the Columbus Free Clinic, a student-run free clinic affiliated with a large academic institution in the Midwest, that provides free primary and specialty care for uninsured and underinsured patients in Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of literature depicting how to best reach these patient populations. This study sought to examine the outreach strategies for patient recruitment to the Rainbow Clinic with a retrospective chart review of past patients (N = 77). 44.2% of respondents discovered the clinic through social media. Age strongly and negatively correlated with appointment frequency (r = -0.665, p < 0.001), while income showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.464, p < 0.001). Preliminary data is a promising foundation for future research to improve recruitment of vulnerable populations. Correlations between age and social-media related appointments and income and social-media associated appointments can be helpful to address specific modes of outreach for target populations in the LGBTQIA + community.

Source: Journal of Community Health

DOI: 10.1007/s10900-025-01517-y

Authors: Geoffrey Xue, Anthony Barnes, Gabriel Alexander Lee, Lucas Raphael Lee, Courtney DuBois Shihabuddin

Institution: The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,990