Population Health Research

It has been found that many physicians who treat
patients with disabilities felt as if they were inadequately trained in
treating patients with disabilities. Further, physicians noted they were
less likely to examine their patients with disabilities or would only
do partial examinations due to the difficulty of transferring patients
onto an examining table, amount of time needed for those patients to
dress and undress, along with the possible need for assistance, and lack
of adequate equipment to assist with transportation.

This
study Aims to identify and understand the various barriers and
disparities that people with disabilities experience in rural and
semi-urban areas in Michigan when trying to access healthcare and
receive healthcare services. We also seek to understand the challenges
that physicians face while treating their patients with intellectual
disabilities in order to inform stakeholders and improve the healthcare
system for this patient population.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)is the most prevalent sexually transmitted
disease in the United States, and its prevention directly reduces the
incidence of several types of cancer. Despite measures to increase HPV
vaccination rates since its approval in 2007, Michigan’s HPV vaccination
rates are below the national averages.

The Primary Aims of this
project are to A) Assess the knowledge gaps and socio-economic barriers
that contribute to the low HPV vaccination rates in Michigan as well as
to understand the barriers that participants face in receiving the HPV
vaccination such as lack of education about the vaccine, lack of access
to the vaccine, expense of the vaccine, multiple administration
appointments of the vaccine, and any other barriers that may exist. B)
To provide education addressing the gaps of knowledge about the HPV
vaccine through a multi-media approach including an informational video
and handout. These will include information about HPV supported by the
CDC, CMU Health physician recommendation, and any other applicable
sources. The Secondary Aim of this project is to increase the
vaccination rate by providing the participants with information in a
brochure about where they can get vaccinated. This will include working
with the on-site clinic to offer the vaccine to those participants who
request it and other locations who may offer the vaccine for free.

People experiencing homelessness have higher rates
of chronic illness, chronic injury, infectious disease, mental illness,
and substance use disorders (JAMA, O'Connell, 2016; HCUP, Sun, 2017).
Comparing chronically homeless to their housed counterparts, these
health disparities result in a 25-year decrease in life expectancy
(National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009).

The aim of this
project is to better understand how homeless people experience the
healthcare system as well as medication access barriers and current
unmet needs in order to design interventions to better serve this
population.

Elderly minority populations are at high risk for not arranging
end-of-life care and have the lowest rate of completion of advanced
directives. This research is seeks to reduce the disparity of service
currently experienced at the end-of-life by offering a better educated
medical community and providing patients appropriate communication
regarding these difficult choices. The ultimate goal is to ensure that
minorities and high-risk older adults are better educated on end-of-life
choices and to increase the number of completed advanced directives in
this patient population.