Desirability of Clinic-Based Financial Services in Urban Pediatric Primary Care

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the desirability of integrating financial services in pediatric primary care among caregivers and older adolescents.

Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional study among caregivers and late adolescents 18 years and older attending an urban, pediatric primary care clinic.

Results: The 221 participants had a mean age of 32.1 years, with 28% of the sample aged 18-25 years. The majority were African American (90.1%), female (83.3%), and single parents (55.1%). More than one-third of the participants (35.8%) reported no household earned income, and 26.7% had a yearly household total income of <$12,000. More than one-half (61.5%) reported financial stress in general, and 67.9% believed that the clinic should provide financial services, including financial education and job workshops. A greater proportion of those who desired clinic-based services were African American (94.7% vs 75%; P < .001) and had a low or middle subjective social status (95.7% vs 83.7%; P = .01).

Conclusions: Clinic-based financial services are desired by caregivers and late adolescents in an urban pediatric primary care practice. Prospective studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of integrated services on childhood poverty and family well-being.

Keywords: childhood poverty; social determinants of health.