Emergency departments and street-involved youth: factors influencing utilization |
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Authors: | Carol Strike Ashley Vandermorris Katherine Rudzinski Kati Mozygemba Christine Wekerle Patricia G Erickson |
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Institution: | 1. Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada;2. The Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of Toronto, Canada;3. Dalla Lana School of Public HealthUniversity of Toronto, Canada;4. Department of Health Services ResearchUniversity of Bremen, Germany;5. McMaster UniversityHamilton, Canada;6. Sociology and CriminologyUniversity of Toronto, Canada |
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Abstract: | Homeless youth often have untreated health problems and experience barriers to care. Existing evidence suggests that homeless youth use emergency departments (EDs) more frequently than other youth. We hypothesized that street youth with access to primary care services would be less likely to utilize EDs for health care. Data were drawn from a study of housing security and changes to it over time among 150 youth (16–20 years) recruited from service agencies for street-involved youth. Our findings show that those with access to primary care were actually more likely to use the ED, suggesting that access may encourage further engagement with the health care system. Findings support the need to better understand why access to primary care increases ED use and what could be done to change this pattern. |
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Keywords: | street youth emergency department health care utilization |
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