RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Content of a Low-income, Uninsured Primary Care Population: Including the Patient Agenda JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP 278 OP 289 DO 10.3122/jabfm.16.4.278 VO 16 IS 4 A1 Larry B. Mauksch A1 Wayne J. Katon A1 Joan Russo A1 Suzanne M. Tucker A1 Edward Walker A1 Janet Cameron YR 2003 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/16/4/278.abstract AB Background: Poor and uninsured people have increased risk of medical and psychiatric illness, but they might be more reluctant to seek care than those with higher incomes. Little information exists about the biopsychosocial problems and concerns of this population in primary care.Methods: We surveyed 500 consecutive patients (aged 18 to 64 years) in a primary care clinic serving only uninsured, low-income patients. We used self-report questions about why patients were coming to the clinic, a chronic illness questionnaire, the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire, and items from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Providers completed a questionnaire naming problems elicited from patients.Results: Patients reported their most common chronic medical problems to be headaches, chronic back problems, and arthritis. The most common concerns patients wanted to discuss with providers and that providers elicited from patients were problems with mood. Compared with patients without current major mental illness, patients with a current major mental illness reported significantly (P < .001) more concerns, chronic illnesses, stressors, forms of maltreatment and physical symptoms.Conclusion: The illness content of this uninsured, low-income population is dominated by emotional distress and physical pain. These needs place a serious burden on providers and can complicate management of chronic medical illnesses. Recommendations for specialized interview training and integrating mental health services are discussed.