Dissatisfaction with medical care among women with HIV: Dimensions and associated factors

Jane K. Burke, J. A. Cook, M. H. Cohen, T. Wilson, K. Anastos, M. Young, H. Palacio, J. Richardson, S. Gange

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies have shown that women with HIV/AIDS in the USA are less likely than men to have access to appropriate health care and to utilize services, including the latest antiretroviral drug therapies. One explanation for this underutilization is patient dissatisfaction with medical care. Dissatisfaction with care has been shown to be associated not only with treatment underutilization, but also with discontinuity of care and poor clinical outcomes. Using Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire data from a national cohort of women with HIV, this study examines levels of dissatisfaction across seven established dimensions of care, and uses multivariate analysis to identify patient characteristics associated with these dimensions (N = 1,303). Women were most dissatisfied with access to care and the technical quality of care, and least dissatisfied with financial aspects of care and their providers' interpersonal manner. Women who reported poor health, who had depressive symptomatology, who were not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), who had no consistent care providers or who were Hispanic/Latina were more likely to be dissatisfied across most dimensions of care. Implications for enhancing clinical care for women with HIV/AIDS and overcoming barriers to utilization of care and treatment are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)451-462
Number of pages12
JournalAIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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