Clinic Orientation to Reduce Health Disparities in Primary Care: A Pilot Study

Onelis Quirindongo-Cedeno, M.D.

Consultant, Primary Care Internal Medicine
Rochester campus of Mayo Clinic

Abstract

Previous studies have shown discrepancies in the provision of preventive health services and achievement of diabetes management quality goal among Somali patients in our primary care practice. Our long-term goal is to reduce health care disparities among immigrant and refugee patients through primary care-based interventions. The objective of this proposal is to design and test the idea of a primary care clinic orientation to improve health care metrics among a subset immigrant and refugee group. We will achieve this objective through the development and testing of the efficacy of a clinic orientation to improve completion of preventive health services among Somali immigrants and refugees in a primary care practice. Using a two-group randomized design, 84 Somali adult patients in a primary care practice will be randomly assigned to receive the intervention or usual clinical care. The intervention will consist of a one-on-one clinic orientation prior to a regularly scheduled appointment with a primary care provider; orientation domains will include how to navigate the health care system and principles of preventive medicine and chronic disease management. Our hypothesis is that this intervention will improve adherence with preventive health services among participants. Primary outcomes, measured at 6 and 12 months, will include total proportion of completed to eligible preventive health services among study population. Secondary measures will include number of visits to primary care and adherence with chronic disease management metrics.