CSM Study 1: Survey of Unsheltered Homeless

Survey of Unsheltered Homeless in Chicago

Study Design: A brief, eight question survey was implemented looking at various characteristics of unsheltered homeless populations in Chicago to provide more focused healthcare interventions.

Participants: n=48; 48 unsheltered homeless (spending two or more nights in a place not ordinarily meant for human habitation) individuals in Chicago.

Measures: Quantitative: Nights spent in a hospital in the past three months; Qualitative: male/female, knowledge of sexual assault, knowledge of overdose treatment, use of primary care physician (PCP), nonsterile IV needle use.

Findings: 67% of those surveyed reported visiting the emergency department at least once within the past three months. A total of 145 nights were spent in a hospital in the past three months with a mean length of 4.53 nights. 29% of those surveyed reported visiting a PCP. Those reporting knowledge of nonsterile IV needle use in the past 3 months had significantly higher odds of visiting the emergency department (OR=4.33, CI=1.03-18.18) Those reporting having a primary care physician (OR=2.27, CI=0.53-9.70), knowledge of overdose treatment (OR=4.20 CI=0.98-18.73), and knowledge of sexual assault (OR=1.96, CI=0.36-10.75) were more likely to report using the emergency department in the past 3 months, as well. Participants identifying as male were less likely to report visiting the emergency department in the past 3 months (OR=0.29, CI=0.03-2.63). Female participants acknowledged sexual assault (p=0.014) and overdose treatment (p=0.001) significantly more than their male counterparts.

Conclusions: Those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Chicago heavily utilize the emergency department and healthcare system. The low reporting of overdose treatment and the high female reporting of sexual assault and nonsterile IV needle use suggests an opportunity for education and intervention in the Chicago unsheltered homeless populations. Evidence indicates that coordinated treatment programs can improve healthcare outcomes in the homeless population, however, to lower healthcare costs associated with this population further research and definitive healthcare interventions needs to be made available.

芝加哥无家可归者调查
研究设计：一项简短的、包含八个问题的调查得以实施，旨在探究芝加哥无家可归人群的多种特征，以提供更有针对性的医疗干预措施。
参与者：n=48；48名在芝加哥无家可归（在非人类居住场所过夜两晚及以上）的个人。
测量指标：定量：过去三个月内住院的夜晚数；定性：性别、对性侵的了解、对过量治疗的了解、使用初级保健医生（PCP）、非无菌静脉注射针的使用。
研究结果：67%的受访者报告称在过去三个月内至少访问过一次急诊室。在过去三个月内，共花费了145个夜晚住院，平均住院天数为4.53天。29%的受访者报告称访问过PCP。那些报告在过去三个月内使用过非无菌静脉注射针的人，访问急诊室的可能性显著更高（OR=4.33，CI=1.03-18.18）。那些报告有初级保健医生（OR=2.27，CI=0.53-9.70）、了解过量治疗（OR=4.20 CI=0.98-18.73）和了解性侵（OR=1.96，CI=0.36-10.75）的人，在过去的三个月内更有可能报告使用急诊室。将自身身份认定为男性的参与者报告称在过去三个月内访问急诊室的可能性较低（OR=0.29，CI=0.03-2.63）。女性参与者承认性侵（p=0.014）和过量治疗（p=0.001）的比例显著高于男性。
结论：在芝加哥遭受无家可归之苦的人群过度依赖急诊室和医疗体系。低报告过量治疗和高报告女性性侵和非无菌静脉注射针使用的情况表明，在芝加哥无家可归人群中存在教育干预的机会。证据表明，协调的治疗项目可以改善无家可归人群的医疗结果，然而，为了进一步降低与该人群相关的医疗成本，需要进行更多研究并制定确切的医疗干预措施。