How false or confusing health care information affects Latino immigrants' access to care
Understanding Mis- and Disinformation About Health Care Access and Their Impacts on Decision-Making Among Latino Immigrants
This project learns how false or confusing information about health care eligibility and immigration rules affects Latino immigrants' decisions about getting medical care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367892 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to share what you've heard about who can use public health programs and how that information affected whether you sought medical care. Researchers will collect short surveys and in-depth interviews with Latino immigrants in California to document experiences and choices. They will analyze common sources of misinformation—such as social media, news reports, and community conversations—and work with local groups to develop clearer messages. The aim is to find practical communication approaches that reduce fear and help eligible people use health services.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Latino immigrants aged 21 and older living in California, including documented and undocumented individuals willing to discuss their experiences with health care information.
Not a fit: People under 21, non-immigrants, non-Latino individuals, or those living outside California are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this locally focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce fear, improve trust, and help more Latino immigrants enroll in and use health services they qualify for.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research showed that changes to the 'public charge' rule reduced immigrant enrollment in public programs and that community outreach can help, but targeted efforts to correct misinformation in Latino immigrant networks remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortega, Alexander N — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Ortega, Alexander N
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.