Perceived needs and service use of Spanish speaking monolingual patients followed at a Hispanic clinic.

Overview

This study compared Spanish speaking monolingual patients at a Hispanic Clinic, with Hispanics and non-Hispanics at a conventional mental health center. A questionnaire in English and Spanish surveyed sociodemographic characteristics and subjectively reported health needs. The monolingual Hispanic Clinic patients perceived a significantly greater need for help with health and benefits, and better access to physical health care providers. Hispanics seen at the Hispanic Clinic report more difficulties managing medications than the other groups suggesting that this problem is not adequately addressed by receiving services in a culturally sensitive clinic, possibly due to the persistent effect of language barriers and low level of education. Additional interventions may be needed to address this problem.