WIP 76 - Addressing Transportation Insecurity Among Pediatric Primary Care Patients

Poster Number: WIP 76
Publication Number: WIP 76.948

Background: Having access to adequate transportation is necessary for patients to receive timely and sufficient health care. Transportation insecurity has been associated with lower socioeconomic status and poorer health, however, geospatial analysis of economically comparable neighborhoods with differing transportation insecurity rates remains understudied. Greater study of this would allow for policymakers to better target resources and ensure transportation needs are being met.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of transportation insecurity among pediatric patients screened at a Houston-based, academic pediatric primary care clinic, identify census tract level transportation insecurity rates, and compare socioeconomically similar neighborhoods differing in transportation insecurity rates.

Design/Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted examining a social determinants of health screener measuring transportation insecurity among patients ages 0-18 scheduled for a well-child visit. Descriptive analysis was performed among patients who indicated that lack of transportation restricted their medical access. Preliminary geospatial analysis of the prevalence of transportation insecurity among these patients was conducted based on Houston census tracts and overlaid with the overall Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) as measured by the CDC. Using this, we will compare Houston regions with similar proximity to the pediatric clinic and similar socioeconomic indicators but differ in rates of transportation insecurity. We will evaluate component metrics that make up the SVI of these neighborhoods in addition to public transportation information, such as travel time and distance. The aim will be to identify SVI or travel metrics explaining the difference in transportation insecurity between these neighborhoods. The pilot screening project was initially approved as a quality improvement study. Further approval to work specifically on geospatial analysis is being obtained. Approval and data analysis with final results will be completed by March 2024.