Doctoral Dissertation Defense:  Patients’ Experiences, Decisions, and Recommendations Regarding Healthcare-based Social Needs Screening and Referral Interventions

by Anna Steeves-Reece, MPH, MA

Many U.S. healthcare organizations have started to screen patients for social needs (e.g., food insecurity and housing instability) and refer individuals who desire help to relevant community resources. This dissertation used a multimethod approach to assess patients’ experiences, decisions, and recommendations regarding critical components of healthcare-based social needs screening and referral interventions. Aim 1 was a systematic review of patient experiences with factors inhibiting and facilitating social needs resource connections. Aim 2 was a quantitative study on whether screening mode (i.e., in-person versus phone-based) is an effect modifier on the relationship between patients’ total number of social needs and their decision to accept help with resource navigation. Aim 3 was a qualitative study on patients’ experiences with and recommendations for improving a social needs screening and referral intervention. Together, findings from the three dissertation aims have implications for clinical and community strategies that may improve patient and population health.

Please email Anna at steev@pdx.edu if you would like the Zoom link.