Perceptions of Practitioner Support for Patient Autonomy are Associated with Delayed Health Care Seeking among Haitian Immigrant Women in South Florida

Few empirical studies have evaluated how perceptions of the patient-provider relationship affect health care seeking among Haitian immigrants. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether perceptions of practitioner support for patient autonomy facilitate or hinder health care seeking among Haitian women enrolled in a cervical self-sampling trial. Perceived autonomy support was measured using an adapted health care climate questionnaire. Associations between perceived autonomy support and health care seeking were modeled using logistic regression and classification and regression trees. Covariates included socioeconomic and structural access indicators. Dependent variables included receipt of any medical care in the past year and delayed health care seeking. Having a usual source of care was strongly associated with both dependent variables. Lower perceived autonomy support was associated with delayed health care seeking in regression models and classification and regression trees. Addressing the capacity of health workers to deliver autonomy-supportive care is essential for improving health services utilization in vulnerable populations.