The Perceptions of Physician Influence on Healthcare Accessibility

By Samuel N. Jacobs - Abbey

This book affords a clearer understanding of physicians' perceptions and may guide the development of informational awareness such as raising materials for physicians. It also alludes to the need to promote positive relationships between physicians and patients in order to maximize healthcare accessibility in the United States.

This book may be a guide for a better understanding of the development of informational and awareness-raising materials for physicians to maximize healthcare accessibility for patients, while also contributing to and expanding the scope of Penchansky and Thomas's (1981) model of healthcare access for further studies. By mirroring down on the six dimensions of healthcare access, the results point to three major themes:

1. Physicians increase healthcare acceptability and awareness through their knowledge and experience;
2. Physicians increase accommodation through consideration of patients' needs and coordination of care, and
3. Physicians increase resource availability through use of electronic medical records.

This book seeks to address how physicians perceive themselves as influencers of patients' access to healthcare. It is important to understand how and why physicians had certain perceptions. The phenomenon of interest which is access to healthcare is of interest to the medical and healthcare fields, as failures to provide affordable and accessible healthcare have a direct impact on the quality of life for those members of society who lack access.

Through this book, I hope to present actionable information for healthcare services by raising awareness and informing physicians about ways in which they can influence healthcare accessibility which may result in improvements in healthcare accessibility for patients across the United States especially people who reside in the rural areas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samuel Jacobs - Abbey
• Release date: Jul 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393433293

Book preview

The Perceptions of Physician Influence on Healthcare Accessibility

Samuel N. Jacobs - Abbey, PHD

Copyright© Samuel N. Jacobs - Abbey, PHD 2020

ISBN: 978-05671-73386

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THE PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICIAN INFLUENCE ON HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY

––––––––

Samuel N. Jacobs-Abbey

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my lovely wife, Naa Kordee Jacobs-Abbey. I want to personally thank her for your dedicated support and prayers throughout my years of study and for specifically for putting up with me while I undertook this research.

Furthermore, I dedicate this work to my lovely children; Keone Rayne, Keona El-Nissi, and Kenaniah El-Roi Jacobs-Abbey.

Also, this work is dedicated to my late mother, Madam Constance Doris Betty Sackey. Even though she was not alive to witness the successful completion of my PhD, her encouraging words, guidance, and unconditional love for me while she was alive made a lasting and significant impact on me and fueled my passion to rise to higher heights. I will always miss her and will continue to make her proud.

Finally, I thank Jesus Christ, my Lord and Personal Savior, Who granted me the grace and ability to come this far. I owe everything I have to Him!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My book would not be complete today if it were not for the support and guidance of many wonderful people, for whom I would like to express my profound gratitude and appreciation.

First and foremost, i would like to thank dr. Christopher miller, for all of his insight, guidance, and support throughout my study. Thank you, dr. Miller. Your leadership pushed me to pay attention to details, a skill that has made me a better problem solver. I will forever be grateful for your patience and faith in me even when i was having a difficult time with my research. I value all of the opportunities you have given me both in my research and outside of that, as well as the relationship we have developed. Indeed, it was a pleasure to work with you.

I would also like to express my appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Kimberly Dixon-Lawson. Thank you for your support and advice through the years. Your quick responses to my questions and detailed review of my research study were greatly appreciated.

I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to Apostle Dr. and Rev. Mrs. Ahia-Armah, senior pastors of Kingslight Chapel International, for your continuous prayers and support.

I would also like to acknowledge my friends who have helped and supported me throughout my research. Dr. Sheilla Amedeka, thank you for being a great friend, confidant and so much more. I will always appreciate all our talks about research.

Dr. Chibunna Emmanuel Nwaobia, thank you for your brotherly love and your continuous support. I recall our midnight phone calls and sharing of ideas and strategies to get the research going. You are more than a brother to me and I am sincerely grateful for our friendship.

Finally, I would not have been able to complete my dissertation if it was not for the love and support of my family. I am forever grateful to my lovely wife, Naa Kordee Jacobs-Abbey. You have always been there for me and if it was not for your continued love and support, I would not have been able to start my degree, let alone finish it. You have taught me to be strong in all circumstances and to successfully maneuver any obstacles that come my way. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all you have done for me and how much you have helped me during my graduate studies. I hope one day I can repay you for all you have done. I love you!

Contents

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER SUMMARY

CHAPTER ONE

HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY

CHAPTER TWO

QUALITY OF LIFE

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER SUMMARY

CHAPTER FOUR

RESEARCH RESULTS

Credibility

Transferability

Dependability

Confirmability

CHAPTER SUMMARY

CHAPTER FIVE

STUDY CONCLUSIONS

DEFINITIONS

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

A significant portion of the United States population across the country has limited access to quality healthcare; however, this situation is more pronounced in rural areas than it is in the urban areas. The gap consequently prompted this research with the purpose of addressing the gap and to draw attention to the need and possibly have it addressed by policy makers knowing the importance of the subject to the nation.

One potential solution is for healthcare practitioners to move their services to underserved rural areas to improve healthcare coverage.  However, this cannot happen without exploring the perceptions of practitioners regarding their influence on healthcare access, particularly the potential impact of moving healthcare services to underserved areas.

This book affords a clearer understanding of physicians’ perceptions and may guide the development of informational awareness such as raising materials for physicians. It also alludes to the need to promote positive relationships between physicians and patients in order to maximize healthcare accessibility in the United States.

This book may be a guide for a better understanding of the development of informational and awareness-raising materials for physicians to maximize healthcare accessibility for patients, while also contributing to and expanding the scope of Penchansky and Thomas’s (1981) model of healthcare access for further studies. By mirroring down on the six dimensions of healthcare access, the results point to three major themes:

a)  Physicians increase healthcare acceptability and awareness through their knowledge and experience;

b)  Physicians increase accommodation through consideration of patients’ needs and coordination of care, and

c)  Physicians increase resource availability through use of electronic medical records.

This book seeks to address how physicians perceive themselves as influencers of patients’ access to healthcare. It is important to understand how and why physicians had certain perceptions. The phenomenon of interest which is access to healthcare is of interest to the medical and healthcare fields, as failures to provide affordable and accessible healthcare have a direct impact on the quality of life for those members of society who lack access.

Through this book, I hope to present actionable information for healthcare services by raising awareness and informing physicians about ways in which they can influence healthcare accessibility which may result in improvements in healthcare accessibility for patients across the United States especially people who reside in the rural areas.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Access to healthcare has a direct impact on the quality of life of the citizens. But there continue to be limitations in access to healthcare for citizens across the United States in both rural and urban communities, despite the existence of federal laws that stipulate practices to advance access to healthcare for these populations.

CHAPTER ONE

HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY

Greater understanding of physicians’ perceptions of their influence on healthcare accessibility may inform efforts to improve health care policy and patient access. I investigated these perceptions using a sample of physicians in family practice and internal medicine who served patients in urban, suburban and rural areas. This is important because access to healthcare directly impacts the quality of life of American citizens.

Researchers have indicated that rural communities are at high risk of poor healthcare provision but