The Role of Social Support and Spiritual Care in Numbers of ED Visits

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, there are almost 50 million uninsured Americans. As the experience of being uninsured or underinsured becomes increasingly common, there is also an increased financial burden on hospitals across the country as their emergency departments (EDs) serve as a health care safety net. While there are a number of medical crises that bring people to ERs, up to more than half of visits to the emergency room may be considered non-urgent. As such, there is a pressing need for exploration of non- traditional forms of care. This study seeks to perform an analysis of a secondary dataset on a segment of the uninsured and privately insured populations, as well as those with public aid. Different types of social support (family, friends, church, co-workers, clubs/organizations) as well as prayer will be examined to see their impact on ER visits in the three months prior to survey administration. This serves not only as implications in short term assistance for those with health issues, but for, perhaps, a more holistic approach to care for patients across the board that may help alleviate the current economic strain in healthcare.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.P.H.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Byun, Christina

Contributors dc:contributor

• Notaro, Stephen J.

• Uninsured
• Uninsured medical care usage
• Emergency Department
• Number of Emergency Department of Visits
• Social Support
• Spiritual Care

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Christina Sook Byun

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31062

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/31062