Zuniga M, Blakely C, Tromp M, Burdine J; AcademyHealth. Meeting (2004 : San Diego, Calif.).
Abstr AcademyHealth Meet. 2004; 21: abstract no. 1038.
Texas A&M University System School of Rural Public Health, Health Policy and Management, 3000 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, TX 77802 Tel. 979.862.4142 Fax 979.862.8371
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To measure Colonia resident baseline health status in project intervention to improve the ability of lay health workers (promotoras) to impact health behaviors of Colonia residents and to integrate their activities with the actions of health providers in the area to change access and utilization rates. STUDY DESIGN: Adult resident health status was measured using the Short Form 8 Health Survey. This survey measures physical and mental health domains and produces eight health scales. These scales are Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health. Respondents were selected randomly through selection of block groups, then households, then residents within households. POPULATION STUDIED: A household survey targeted 643 residents in two-intervention project Colonias and a non-intervention control Colonia in Hidalgo County. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: An overall response rate of 89% was accomplished. The adult respondents had a mean age of 40 (18-86), 56% were female, 94% were Hispanic, and 68% were married. The health status (SF-8) physical and mental summary scales were statistically different (worse) than national norms. With the exception of the mental health scale, the remaining seven health scales were statistically different (worse) than national norms. Health scale specific comparisons for disease burden and insurance status are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of health status is a useful tool for evaluation of community-based health interventions. The health disparities in the mostly Hispanic population are evident in their worse health scale score when compared to the US national norms. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY OR PRACTICE: The measurement of health status is a practical strategy to assess progress to the elimination of health disparities.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Adult
- Data Collection
- Female
- Health Status
- Health Surveys
- Humans
- Mental Health
- Research Design
- Sample Size
- Texas
- methods
- hsrmtgs
UI: 103624072
From Meeting Abstracts