An Assessment of Healthcare Barriers and Health Needs for Rural Residents. Results From a Qualitative Approach
Document Type
Presentation
Presentation Date
5-2023
Abstract or Description
Background
Rural residents experience multiple barriers and limited resources related to obtaining health care services, which significantly impact the health outcomes of these populations. This qualitative analysis aims to identify healthcare barriers and health priorities in a post-COVID context for rural residents and present recommendations for addressing some of these key needs.
Methods
From July 2021 to July 2022, we conducted 19 virtual focus group discussions with a total of 86 participants. Participants represented key community stakeholders, healthcare professionals, local public health departments, faith-based organizations, and chambers of commerce. These focus group meetings were held as a key step in conducting community health needs assessments for five rural hospitals/communities, three located in Georgia, one in Alabama, and one in Louisiana. The focus groups were conducted via Zoom and the data was thematically analyzed using NVivo 12.
Findings
Key health need areas arising from the discussion were mental health, chronic conditions, and sedentary lifestyles. The main categories of barriers to health care that emerged from the discussions were: limited specialty services, lack of transportation, and unaffordability and complexity of health insurance. Participants suggested improved health education, community outreach, community wellness programs, and collaborative efforts as some key strategies to address these needs.
Conclusions
Long-standing barriers experienced by rural communities have been further exacerbated by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, there are opportunities to make further improvements and capitalize on the existing community resources through partnership strengthening. Focus groups for community health needs assessments present a great opportunity to gain input from community members that otherwise would go uncaptured.
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Georgia Public Health Association Annual Conference
Location
Jekyll Island, GA
Recommended Citation
Shehaj, Blerta, Samuel T. Opoku, Bettye Apenteng, Linda Kimsey, Charles Owens, Angela Peden.
2023.
"An Assessment of Healthcare Barriers and Health Needs for Rural Residents. Results From a Qualitative Approach."
Department of Health Policy and Community Health Faculty Presentations.
Presentation 306.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/hpmb-facpres/306
Additional Information
Georgia Southern University faculty member, Samuel Opoku, Bettye Apenteng, Linda Kimsey, Charles Owens, and Angela Peden presented An Assessment of Healthcare Barriers and Health Needs for Rural Residents. Results From a Qualitative Approach in the Georgia Public Health Association Annual Conference, May 2023.