Primary health care clinics as catalyst to community building and health among residents in low income housing units

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper focuses on the identified value of a community-based project (CBP), including residents' living within low income housing units and their reported experiences of receiving health and social services within two communities by nurse practitioners (NPs) and its impact on their communities. ObjectiveTo gain insight into the lived experience of residents in the housing units from a collaborative interprofessional care approach provided in a clinic situated within each housing unit, in integrating health and social services within the residents' own ‘community’ and its outcomes. DesignA qualitative descriptive study to gain insight into the shared views of care informants. SettingsTwo low income housing units in xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. ParticipantsTwenty-two residents representing all genders who lived in the housing units. MethodsA purposive sampling of willing residents participated in a focus group interview. Each group comprised from 4 to 6 persons. Two focus group interviews occurred in each of the two housing units. ResultsTheir voices resulted in identification of two themes – clinic as a catalyst to creating a sense of community and clinic as assisting them in managing their overall health. Two subthemes were also identified within each theme. ConclusionFindings provide insight into the value of CBP, that a strengths-based and interprofessional care approach can serve as a catalyst for an evolving community.