Background:
Arabic-speaking refugees are the largest group of resettled persons in the United States since 2008, yet little is known about their rates of healthcare access, utilization and satisfaction.
Methods:
From January to December 2019, a household survey was conducted of Arabic-speaking refugees resettled in CT. Data collected included demographics, prevalence of chronic conditions, patterns of health seeking behavior, insurance status and patient satisfaction using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18).
Results:
Sixty-five households responded to the survey representing 295 Arabic-speaking refugees-of which 141 (48%) were children. Forty-seven households (72%) reported members with chronic conditions, 62 persons (21%) needed daily medication, 285 (97%) persons were insured. Respondents reported high median patient satisfaction with wide variation.
Conclusion:
Arabic-speaking refugees resettled in CT are young but have similar adult rates of chronic medical conditions as the host community. They majority remained insured after RMA lapsed. They expressed median high satisfaction with health services but with wide variation. Inaccessibility of health services in Arabic and difficulty obtaining medications remain areas in need of improvement.
Background
Arabic-speaking refugees are the largest group of refugees arriving in the United States since 2008, yet little is known about their rates of healthcare access, utilization, and satisfaction after the end of the Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) period.
Methods
This study was a cross-sectional observational study. From January to December 2019, a household survey was conducted of newly arrived Arabic-speaking refugees in Connecticut between 2016 and 2018. Households were interviewed in Arabic either in person or over the phone by one of five researchers. Descriptive statistics were generated for information collected on demographics, prevalence of chronic conditions, patterns of health seeking behavior, insurance status and patient satisfaction using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18).
Results
Sixty-five households responded to the survey representing 295 Arabic-speaking refugees – of which 141 (48%) were children. Forty-seven households (72%) reported 142 chronic medical conditions among 295 individuals, 62 persons (21%) needed daily medication, 285 (97%) persons were insured. Median patient satisfaction was > 4.0 out of 5 for 6 of 7 domains of the PSQ-18 but wide variation (scores from 1.0 – 5.0).
Conclusion
Arabic-speaking refugees in Connecticut participating in this study were young. The majority remained insured after their Refugee Medical Assistance lapsed. They expressed median high satisfaction with health services but with wide variation. Inaccessibility of health services in Arabic and difficulty obtaining medications remain areas in need of improvement.
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