Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41107926›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

"It doesn't feel as much like my downfall for needing help": patient perspectives on pathways for improving health through social health integration.

Ariel Singer, Ammarah Mahmud, Sophia Mun, Emily Westbrook, Kathleen Barnes, Katie Coleman, John Ewing, Heidi Den Haan, Meagan Brown

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ariel SingerACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA. connect@waterwheelhealth.com.
Ammarah MahmudACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Sophia MunACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Emily WestbrookACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Kathleen BarnesACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Katie ColemanACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
John EwingACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Heidi Den HaanACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.
Meagan BrownACT Center, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101-1466, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocial health integration (SHI) consists of health care systems' efforts to identify and address patient social circumstances, such as housing instability, food insecurity, or limited transportation. Gottlieb et al. published a revised logic model in 2024 describing multiple pathways for SHI programs to achieve the goals of improving health and reducing avoidable utilization. Previous qualitative studies have described patient attitudes towards and experiences of SHI programs, but there are limited insights into how patient perspectives align with the newly proposed pathways described in the revised logic model. These perspectives are critical for shaping patient-centered implementation and evaluation of future SHI programs.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 50 patients who participated in a pragmatic randomized evaluation of an SHI program in two primary care clinics. The program consisted of universal screening and randomized follow-up by either a local, clinic-based community resource specialist or a resource specialist operating out of Kaiser Permanente's nationally-run, centralized Connections Call Center. We elicited patient perspectives on their general experience with SHI, perceived usefulness of SHI, if their needs had been met, and the impact of SHI on their overall health care experience. We analyzed the qualitative data using a Rapid Analysis Procedure to identify overarching themes, and organized the results using the pathways proposed in the revised logic model.

resultsFew patients reported being successfully connected to resources, enhanced engagement with outpatient services, or receiving tailored care plans as a result of participating in the SHI program. Patient perspectives most strongly aligned with emotional support and healing relationships as the value-driver for SHI.

conclusionsAlthough few patients reported successful connection to social services as a result of participating in the SHI program, many more patients reported that their positive interactions with a resource specialist regarding their social circumstances led to an improved perception of their health care system, and the perception that their needs had been met. This mismatch emphasizes the value that health care organizations can offer by providing emotional support to patients who are facing stressful social circumstances, even when the need for social services outstrips the supply.

Indexed as

Patient SatisfactionAdultAgedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchHealth disparitiesHealth-related social needsPatient experiencePrimary careQualitativeSocial determinants of health

Identifiers

PMID41107926
PMCPMC12535039

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.