Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) Chair of Health Systems Paul Chung, MD, MS, coauthored a study showing that clinic-based financial coaching significantly improves adherence to recommended preventive care visits and vaccinations among low-income families. The study aimed to show the impact of poverty on health and medical care disruption.
During the community-partnered randomized controlled trial, financial coaches assisted one group of parents in addressing their financial goals such as employment, savings, and public benefits enrollment. Results revealed that the rate of missed visits was significantly lower in the group receiving financial coaching. Moreover, the intervention group demonstrated higher rates of up-to-date immunizations and fewer missed vaccinations during the six-month preventive care period, suggesting that integrating financial coaching into pediatric primary care can enhance adherence to preventive care for low-income families.
