RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Qualitative Analysis of a Primary Care Medical-Legal Partnership: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP jabfm.2023.230328R2
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230328R2
A1 Liaw, Winston
A1 Bakos-Block, Christine
A1 Northrup, Thomas F.
A1 Stotts, Angela L.
A1 Hernandez, Abigail
A1 Finzetto, Lisandra
A1 Oloyede, Pelumi
A1 Moscoso Rodriguez, Bruno
A1 Johnson, Skye
A1 Gilbert, Lauren
A1 Dobbins, Jessica
A1 Woodard, LeChauncy
A1 Murphy, Thomas
YR 2024
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/early/2024/08/30/jabfm.2023.230328R2.abstract
AB Background: Certain health-related risk factors require legal interventions. Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) are collaborations between clinics and lawyers that address these health-harming legal needs (HHLNs) and have been shown to improve health and reduce utilization.Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the impact, barriers, and facilitators of MLP implementation in primary care clinics.Methods: A qualitative design using a semistructured interview assessed the perceived impact, barriers, and facilitators of an MLP, among clinicians, clinic and MLP staff, and clinic patients. Open AI software (otter.ai) was used to transcribe interviews, and NVivo was used to code the data. Braun & Clarke’s framework was used to identify themes and subthemes.Results: Sixteen (n = 16) participants were included in this study. Most respondents were women (81%) and white (56%). Four respondents were clinic staff, and 4 were MLP staff while 8 were clinic patients. Several primary themes emerged including: Patients experienced legal issues that were pernicious, pervasive, and complex; through trusting relationships, the MLP was able to improve health and resolve legal issues, for some; mistrust, communication gaps, and inconsistent staffing limited the impact of the MLP; and, the MLP identified coordination and communication strategies to enhance trust and amplify its impact.Conclusion: HHLNs can have a significant, negative impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Respondents perceived that MLPs improved health and resolved these needs, for some. Despite perceived successes, integration between the clinical and legal organizations was elusive.