Access to and satisfaction with health care are multi-dimensional concepts that overlap in many areas. Historically both concepts have been based on assumptions derived from the needs and experiences of middle-class, educated, predominantly Caucasian populations. In our work to increase mammography and Pap screening among low-income African American, Chinese, Filipino, Latina and white women, we conducted an extensive literature review of access and satisfaction measures, as well as 10 ethnic and language specific focus groups, in order to develop interview questions that would adequately reflect the experiences and cultural backgrounds of low-income, ethnically diverse women. After developing the questions, we cognitively tested them with women who are members of the target populations. Based on this work, we developed a set of questions that capture various dimensions of access to and satisfaction with both general health care and cancer screening services: usual source of care, barriers to care, preventive health services and satisfaction with care. We found that some questions and dimensions that usually are included in access and satisfaction measures are not appropriate to some cultural groups because they clash with these groups' values and assumptions. Other questions had to be modified when asked in different languages. These newly developed questions demonstrate the need for finer-tuned measurement of access and satisfaction in diverse populations.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to recognize methodological issues in measuring and operationalizing traditional measures of access and satisfaction in a multi-ethnic, multilingual breast and cervical cancer screening study
Keywords: Access, Cancer Screening
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.