Perceived Barriers to Health Care Access in a Treated Population

Objective:Health care access may be a significant contributor to health outcome. However, few data exist on perception of barriers by patients in treatment, and attending a clinic visit does not mean that no barriers exist. Understanding barriers for treated populations is particularly important in optimizing care for high vulnerability populations, such as those with mental illness and the elderly.Method:A structured interview, demographic questionnaire, and SF-12 were administered to 324 veterans presenting for primary care or mental health appointments at a Veterans Affairs medical center. Principle components analysis was performed and relationships to vulnerability characteristics were identified.Results:Most interview items showed modest mean levels but high variance. Responses were stable over three to six weeks. As hypothesized, perceived total barriers were greater in participants from several vulnerable populations: those receiving treatment for mental health problems, those with disabilities, a...