Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


osu1330979750.pdf (782.27 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Perceptions of quality of medical care among consumers with schizophrenia who have a comorbid medical illness

Fredin, Rebecca Layton
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330979750

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Social Work, Ohio State University, Social Work.
Mortality and morbidity rates are higher among people with severe mental illnesses than the general population. While many studies have examined this phenomenon from the perspective of the provider, few researchers have worked with consumers to gain their perspective on this issue. As pointed out by researchers who have examined this from the perspective of the providers, there are clear structural (e.g. access to care) disparities in care for consumer diagnosed with schizophrenia. Nonetheless, research demonstrates other barriers to essential care such as consumer perceptions of health care and its providers. There is a need for additional research to examine perceptions of quality of care from the viewpoint of the consumer. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to examine how twenty-five consumers at a local community mental health center diagnosed with both schizophrenia and a chronic physical illness (heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV, or obesity) perceive the physical medical care they receive from their primary care physicians. The study was designed to gain more information about what these consumers define as high-quality medical care, and to determine in which areas they may perceive barriers to care. The study was both quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative portion was composed of questions regarding five dimensions of care: communication, empathy, the doctor’s perception of schizophrenia, the doctor’s medical knowledge, and the patient’s perception of their own health. The quantitative results were analyzed in SPSS using nonparametric tests due to the small sample size. The qualitative portion asked the respondents to describe good and bad experiences they had with their primary care physicians. The qualitative results were obtained using Grounded Theory. During data analysis, an overarching theme emerged: respondents connect high quality health care with good communication, empathy, accessibility, and provision of basic medical treatment. The quantitative results did not demonstrate a correlation between demographic information and any dimension of quality of care, but the dimensions of quality of care were correlated. There was a significant correlation between a diagnosis of diabetes and higher ratings in the Communication and Empathy dimensions. The qualitative results showed that consumers with SMIs and a comorbid diagnosis of diabetes as well as those with HIV should be studied further: if researchers can better identify the specific activities this group associates with high quality care perhaps this can act as a blueprint for better care for people with SMIs and other comorbid chronic illnesses. The author also identified issues that occurred for all diagnostic groups. Respondents reported communication and trust issues with their doctors. Additionally, respondents stated they had problems accessing care, which then exacerbated their psychiatric symptoms. Respondents with hepatitis C regularly perceived disparities in the care that they received, especially regarding lack of treatment. The results indicate a need for further research to investigate ways to improve communication between consumers and providers and better accessibility to primary care physicians for this population, as these were the most commonly mentioned problems with care in the qualitative interviews.
Joseph Guada, PhD (Advisor)
Mo Yee Lee, PhD (Committee Member)
132 p.
Social Work
schizophrenia; heart disease; diabetes; HIV; hepatitis C; obesity; consumer advocacy; SMI; severe mental illness; quality of care

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fredin, R. L. (2012). Perceptions of quality of medical care among consumers with schizophrenia who have a comorbid medical illness [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330979750

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fredin, Rebecca. Perceptions of quality of medical care among consumers with schizophrenia who have a comorbid medical illness. 2012. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330979750.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fredin, Rebecca. "Perceptions of quality of medical care among consumers with schizophrenia who have a comorbid medical illness." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330979750

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1330979750
659
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.