Policy Awareness, Financial Hardship, and Work Impact: Correlates of Negative Experiences With Health Care Providers and Health Care Insurers Among Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

SAGE Open

Laurie A. Drapela¹ 

关键词: health care;    children;    autism spectrum disorder;    awareness;   

DOI  :  10.1177/2158244014553212

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Individuals with disabilities often report difficulty interacting with health care professionals. Addressing this challenge requires greater understanding of factors that exacerbate the odds of negative interactions between health care providers and patients with disabilities. Drawing on the qualitative research describing the features of such incidents, we use logistic regression to explore two dimensions of this dynamic: negative experiences with health care providers (e.g., doctors, specialists) and negative experiences with health insurance carriers (e.g., for profit or non-profit health insurance organizations). Using a non-probability sample of American families who have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we find that negative experiences with health care providers are associated with the family’s income level, as well as changes in parental labor force participation. The odds of a negative interaction with the insurance carrier are intensified when the family experiences financial difficulties and when they have a negative experience with the health care provider. Finally, families who are aware of laws and policies regarding ASD also report increased odds of negative experiences with their insurance carrier but not their health care provider. Policy implications of our findings are discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY