Evaluating knowledge and utilization of community health resources to promote autonomous decision-making among people experiencing homelessness in New Orleans

Abstract

ABSTRACT People experiencing homelessness encounter barriers to self-directed community health resource use that may limit autonomous decision-making. Tailored educational material is needed to increase knowledge, promote well-informed resource access, and improve community health system navigability. This study aimed to 1) assess homeless individuals' baseline knowledge and utilization of community health resources and 2) evaluate use of a pocket-sized resource guide. Participants (N = 103) were recruited at a no-cost medical clinic in New Orleans to complete pre- and post-surveys assessing knowledge and utilization of community health resources listed on the guide. Over a third (38.8%) of participants indicated having low knowledge of resources at baseline. Utilization of resources varied substantially, ranging from a majority (66.7%) to a select few (6.9%) participants reporting attendance at sites. Among participants who completed the follow-up survey, self-rated knowledge of resources significantly increased (p = 0.029); however, the number of resources used in the past month slightly declined. These results may speak to participants who used the resource guides having an improved ability to selectively access resources for their specific needs. Interventions to improve health resource knowledge can, thus, aid more efficient and autonomous decision-making and are needed to improve community health system accessibility for populations experiencing homelessness.