The Your Health Kiosk digital platform identified 303 health service needs, most commonly primary care (50%), and 159 social risk factors, most frequently healthcare affordability (54%).
Observational (n=1,909)
Yes
A community-embedded digital text platform successfully identified and helped address health service needs and social risk factors in a predominantly minority and low-income population.
Abstract Rationale Your Health Kiosk is a digital text platform that focuses on navigating individuals through the healthcare system and addressing barriers to care. Since October 2022, over 2,100 individuals have enrolled, and more than 1,000 participants actively communicate with our navigators through text. Enrollment rates at community outreach events, including health fairs, vaccine clinics, churches, and libraries, have reached 78%, particularly among racial-ethnic minorities and low-income residents. In addition to medical navigation, we assist with housing, food insecurity, language barriers, transportation challenges, helping identify, and mitigate non-medical barriers to care. Methods SIndividuals were recruited to the digital text platform at community events in New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Franklin, and Elizabeth. They were also connected through the Mexican consultant and Rutgers Health Clinic. They were enrolled and given access to the chat platform, which was multilingual. All those enrolled were assessed for cancer screening and asked if any needs they had required to be addressed. Results Among our 1909 participants, 69.3% lived in Middlesex County and 11.0% in Somerset County, with the remaining 19.7% coming from 17 other counties and surrounding regions. The majority identified as Hispanic/Latino (73%), followed by Black/African American (14.6%) and Caucasian/White (7%) individuals, with smaller proportions identifying as Asian (3.3%), Mixed or Other (2%). In terms of gender distribution, 24% were male and 76% female. We were able to connect individuals to primary care, specialty care, dental and cancer screening. A total of 303 health service needs and 159 social risk factors were recorded. Among health service requests, primary care was most common (50%), followed by specialty care and cancer screening (each 21%), diagnostic services (17%), dental care (15%), women’s health (13%), and mental health (4%). Among social risk factors, inability to afford healthcare was most frequent (54%), followed by transportation barriers (45%), food insecurity (18%), cost-related medication non-adherence (6%), utility debt (5%), housing instability (4%), inadequate caregiver support (4%), and legal needs (3%). Conclusion YHK demonstrates a scalable, community-embedded digital model for supporting preventive care. We were able to connect individuals to healthcare services and overcome barriers. We continue to help our community, but due to federal government priorities, we have had to think of innovative ways to continue this work. We are working on an AI navigator assist agent and are working on embedding this program into the Rutgers School of Public Health as a capstone site. This abstract is funded by: NJDOH and City of Perth Amboy
Quinones et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Social needs and healthcare access barriers (n=1,909). Your Health Kiosk (digital text platform) was evaluated on Health service needs and social risk factors. The Your Health Kiosk digital platform identified 303 health service needs, most commonly primary care (50%), and 159 social risk factors, most frequently healthcare affordability (54%).