Degree Name
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
8-2026
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Kelly E. Moore
Committee Members
Stacey Williams, Julia Dodd, Jean Hemphill
Abstract
Patients experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at greater risk of death compared to the general population. However, there are barriers to accessing and utilizing mainstream healthcare services. Specialized healthcare programs for PEH address some of these barriers, specifically Street Medicine (e.g., Withers, 2011). Street Medicine is a mobile form of care for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness that is patient-centered, interdisciplinary, and provided outside of a brick-and-mortar establishment. It is unclear which PEH utilize Street Medicine and why. This study aims to understand the reasons for accessing Street Medicine services from the perspective of those currently experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness and who have received Street Medicine healthcare services, with a specific focus on The Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations (Gelberg et al., 2000), anticipated and internalized stigma, in addition to the “why try” effect (Corrigan et al., 2009). These factors have rarely been examined in relation to Street Medicine access. Potential participants were recruited from a Street Medicine team in East Tennessee. Once participants agreed to participate, they completed a series of demographic questions, three standardized questionnaires, and a semi-structured interview. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptives, a t-test and ANOVA. Qualitative data was analyzed using a deductive, thematic approach. Results showed that stigma and self-efficacy towards coping with health problems were barriers to accessing healthcare, more so than static barriers. Participants described a range of experiences related to perceived, anticipated, enacted, and internalized stigma. This experience of stigma translated into how participants see healthcare providers within and outside of Street Medicine services. By determining who is accessing services and why, resources can be rightly allocated towards Street Medicine services, an important healthcare option for this population.
Document Type
Dissertation - embargo
Recommended Citation
Kromash, Rachelle, "A Study Assessing the Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Street Medicine Services for Patients Experiencing Homelessness" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4752. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4752
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
