| Author(s): | Chiehwen E. Hsu; Francisco S. Mas; Holly E. Jacobson; Ann Marie Harris; Victoria I. Hunt; Ella T. Nkhoma |
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| Location: | Texas |
| Year: |
2006 |
| Available at: | works.bepress.com/francisco_sotomas/30/ (report broken link)
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| Description: | Meeting the needs of public health emergency and response represents a unique challenge for health practitioners with primary responsibilities for rural communities that are often very diverse. The present study assessed the language capabilities, confidence and training needs of Texas rural physicians in responding to public health emergencies. In the first half of year 2004, a cross-sectional, semi-structured survey questionnaire was administered in northern, rural Texas. The study population consisted of 841 practicing or retired physicians in the targeted area. One-hundred-sixty-six physicians (30%) responded to the survey. The responses were geographically referenced in maps. Respondents reported seeing patients with diverse cultural backgrounds. They communicated in 16 different languages other than English in clinical practice or at home, with 40% speaking Spanish at work. Most were not confident in the diagnosis or treatment of public health emergency cases. Geographic information systems were found useful in identifying those jurisdictions with expressed training and cultural needs. Additional efforts should be extended to involve African-American/Hispanic physicians in preparedness plans for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care in emergencies. |
| Language(s): | English |
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| Communities: | General; Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American |
| Subtopic: | Culturally Competent Care Language Access Services Organizational Supports Building Knowledge |
| Target Audience: | Emergency Planners & Managers; Healthcare Providers; Public Health Professionals; Researchers; Hospitals |
| Resource Type: | Journal Article Quantitative Study |
| Citation: | Hsu CE, Mas FS, Jacobson HE, Harris AM, Hunt VI, Nkhoma ET, “Public Health Preparedness of Health Providers: Meeting the Needs of Diverse, Rural Communities” Journal of the National Medical Association, 2006. 98 (11) 1784-1791 |
| Contact Info: | Dr. Chiehwen Ed Hsu
University of Maryland College Park
2371 HHP Building
Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742
Phone: 301- 405-8161
Fax: 301- 314-9167
E-mail: edhsu@umd.edu |