PTSD and Substance Use: Unrecognized Sequelae of Bioterrorism in Primary Care Providers

Provider and Administrator Experiences With Providing HIV Treatment and Prevention Services in Rural Areas

Using Andersen's behavioral model of health services use, this study analyzes data from 62 semistructured interviews of providers and administrators at health clinics and social service agencies in rural Florida. Andersen's model addresses predisposing, enabling, and need factors that influence health services use. ATLASti was used to code all interviews and to extract HIV-related themes. The aim of this study was to: (1) add a new dimension to the literature on HIV care services in rural areas, (2) reveal factors that impact ability to provide care to PLWH in rural areas, and (3) suggest ways in which providers and administrators may address any unmet health care needs of PLWH. Respondents perceived systems factors to be more important determinants of access to care for individuals living with HIV and supported ongoing trainings that would increase staff understanding of the needs of people living with HIV.

Critical challenges and impediments affecting rural physicians during a public health emergency

OBJECTIVE

Disaster preparedness has become a health policy priority for the United States in the aftermath of the anthrax attacks, 9/11, and other calamities. It is important for rural health care professionals to be prepared for a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. We sought to determine the barriers impeding rural physicians from being prepared for a human-induced disaster such as a bioterrorist attack.

METHODS

This study employed a qualitative methodology using key informant interviews followed by grounded theory methods for data analysis. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 physicians in the state of Florida from federally designated rural areas.

RESULTS

The interview participants articulated primary barriers and the associated factors contributing to these barriers that may affect rural physician preparedness for human-induced emergencies. Rural physicians identified 3 primary barriers: accessibility to health care, communication between physicians and patients, and rural infrastructure and resources. Each of these barriers included associated factors and influences. For instance, according to our participants, access to care was affected by a lack of health insurance, a lack of finances for health services, and transportation difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS

Existing rural organizational infrastructure and resources are insufficient to meet current health needs owing to a number of factors including the paucity of health care providers, particularly medical specialists, and the associated patient-level barriers. These barriers presumably would be exacerbated in the advent of a human-induced public health emergency. Thus, strategically implemented health policies are needed to mitigate the barriers identified in this study.