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Barriers to Providing Health Education During Primary Care Visits at Community Health Centers: Clinical Staff Insights

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Abstract

The rapid increase of diverse patients living in the US has created a different set of needs in healthcare, with the persistence of health disparities continuing to challenge the current system. Chronic disease management has been discussed as a way to improve health outcomes, with quality patient education being a key component. Using a community based participatory research framework, this study utilized a web-based survey and explored clinical staff perceptions of barriers to providing patient education during primary care visits. With a response rate of nearly 42 %, appointment time allotment seemed to be one of the most critical factors related to the delivery of health education and should be considered key. The importance of team-based care and staff training were also significant. Various suggestions were made in order to improve the delivery of quality patient education at community health centers located in underserved areas.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Sigma Theta Tau International, Mu Chi chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT, 06824, USA

    Jessica Alicea-Planas

  2. Quality Improvement, Optimus Healthcare, Inc., 982 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06608, USA

    Alix Pose

  3. School Based Health Centers and Wellness Programs, Optimus Healthcare, Inc., 982 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06608, USA

    Linda Smith

Authors
  1. Jessica Alicea-Planas
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  2. Alix Pose
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  3. Linda Smith
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Correspondence to Jessica Alicea-Planas.

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Alicea-Planas, J., Pose, A. & Smith, L. Barriers to Providing Health Education During Primary Care Visits at Community Health Centers: Clinical Staff Insights. J Community Health 41, 220–225 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0085-2

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