Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News

When surveyed, 95 percent of Western Wisconsin participants agreed it is extremely or very important for the state to make health care more affordable.

This was not a shock to those who led the research.

"I think it kind of confirmed what we felt about the public mandate for health insurance," said Lois Taft, professor of nursing systems and department chair.

The study aims to examine the level of health care coverage and concerns by surveying a sample of 222 citizens in Eau Claire and the surrounding area.

The group will present its findings at a forum from 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 15 in Room 100 of Hibbard Hall.

"We plan to share the data with legislators and we'd like to see changes in health care policy," Taft said. "And just to raise awareness about the difficulties of the people, particularly of those who are uninsured."

State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma), one of the authors of Healthy Wisconsin, will be present at the forum to hear about the study and speak on her plans for reform.

"I knew health care was a problem but I didn't realize it was so big of a problem," Vinehout said. "I am convinced that the only way real health care reform is going to happen is when people get involved."

According to the study, nearly 75 percent of those surveyed were worried that insurance companies cared more about making a profit than about the quality of patient care. Among the uninsured, 67.5 percent reported being unable to see a doctor when they needed to in the past year due to cost barriers.

Faculty researchers include Eric Jamelske, assistant professor of economics, Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, assistant professor of management and marketing, Lois Taft, professor of nursing and Katherine German, UW-Eau Claire alumnus and graduate assistant in the college of nursing and health sciences.

Those surveyed for "A Descriptive Analysis of Health Care Coverage and Concerns in West Central Wisconsin," were insured, uninsured and under insured citizens, Taft said, adding the researchers intentionally over represented those self-identified as uninsured or underinsured as they tend to be disregarded.

"I think the most important finding was that across all three categories, people were very worried about both the cost and quality of health care and were very supportive of action for health care reform," she said.

In creating the surveys, the group looked at data available on a similar study of Vermont, Jamelske said. Beginning in the summer of 2007, the group administered the surveys in person around Eau Claire and the surrounding area.

Three students assisted the faculty members in their research: junior Ian Hansen, senior Carleigh Nelson and junior McKenzie Johnson.

"We want to create experiences for students where they get to interact with faculty members," Jamelske said, adding the students helped develop surveys, conduct interviews and present and prepare the information.

German, who performed interviews, is in the ongoing process of analyzing the data.

"Hands-on experience is really cool," she said. "You can learn the process from a book, but it brings it to life so much more when you're involved in the research."

Jamelske attributed some of the problem to a lack of informed citizenship.

According to the study, nine percent of respondents said they were extremely or very informed on specific reform proposals.

"People generally feel the system is broken and needs fixing, but when asked about specific proposals, they don't really know what's going on," he said. "Therein lies the problem. The average citizen doesn't know much about health care. They want it fixed but they fear the government being in control of it would be a huge problem."

In order for health care reform to occur, Vinehout said, people must work within the political system to make change happen.

"Now, we have to translate this into political power."

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