PARTNERSHIP BUILDING WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS

This article examines barriers to provider-patient partnership for low er-income black households in the rural South. After providing an inte ractional model of partnership, quality of provider-patient interactio n is assessed for private practice, clinic, inpatient hospital, and em ergency department settings across five counties. Quantitative and qua litative data were collected through 281 household interviews, 20 key informant interviews, and 6 focus group interviews. Findings suggest t hat attention needs to be given to provider-patient communication and the emergency department as a treatment setting. Respondents often bel ieved that racism and classism were barriers to quality care in their communities. Recommendations are presented based on these findings.