Factors Influencing Healthcare Utilization Within a Free Community Clinic

Abstract

The purpose was to explore the relationship between the presence of a free community clinic and factors associated with utilization of healthcare through a secondary data analysis. Using a descriptive correlational design, results were analyzed to explore relationships between potential utilization of healthcare, identification of a regular source of healthcare, and health insurance status. Most subjects would not seek healthcare if the free community clinic was not available. Subjects with health insurance were significantly more likely to have a regular source of healthcare and seek healthcare in the absence of the free community clinic. Subjects with a regular source of healthcare were significantly more likely to seek healthcare in the absence of the free community clinic. Emergency room utilization was not impacted by regular source of healthcare or health insurance. This study supports the need for free community clinics in areas with high percentages of uninsured, immigrant, and refugee populations.