J Am Board Fam Med
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Despite the Affordable Care Act's insurance expansion, low-income Latinos are less likely to have a primary care provider compared with other racial/ethnic and income groups. We examined if community-based health care navigation could improve access to primary care in this population. ⋯ Community-based navigation has the potential to reduce barriers and improve access to primary care for low-income Latinos. In addition to expanding insurance coverage, policymakers should invest in health care navigation to reduce disparities in primary care.
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One major issue facing the health care system in the United States is the disparity in health care management of diseases that affect minority patient populations. Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is very common in Black men. It presents as skin-colored to erythematous, follicular or perifollicular papules and pustules predominantly on the neck and chin. ⋯ For those who are able to obtain medical waivers, there is significant time and costs associated with this, especially if they must wait to receive this waiver from a dermatologist. If primary care providers are able to identify the disease and spread awareness of its legitimacy, it may be easier for patients to receive the necessary waivers and may encourage employers to reflect on the ethnic equity of this practice. Our professional support can help reduce stigma and lead to improvements in the physical and psychological health of this historically mistreated population.
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Little data exist on the well-being of older adults from Asian American (AA) communities. ⋯ AA older adults report lower life satisfaction and not needed receiving social and emotional support compared with all other race/ethnicities. Among AAs, Korean older adults were most likely to report poorer well-being. AA older adult communities may be in urgent need of further research and investment in interventions.
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This is the first of two sequential equity and diversity-themed JABFM issues. Multiple articles address the social justice tenet of family medicine; ie, diversity and equity issues within the family medicine field and health care equity in the delivery of care to diverse patient populations. Within the field, we have a paper on how ABFM attempts to ensure equity in the board examination through differential item analyses review. ⋯ Gender inequity is also important for family medicine. For care of diverse populations, there is a discussion of pseudofolliculitis barbae implications, race-specific blood pressure medications and control, location of family physicians and of social services by need, and a large study of laboratory testing by gender. Articles on various clinical topics are also included.