Wait Times and Health Care Utilization Among Refugee Patients in Dermatology: A Retrospective Chart Review

    December 2023 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Shawn Afvari, Mallory Zaino, Christina Kontzias, Mohammed Moumen, Shahla Namak, Steven R. Feldman
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    TLDR Refugee patients face long wait times for dermatology care, worsening health disparities.
    This study examined health care utilization and wait times for dermatology among 33 refugee patients with dermatologic complaints at a clinic in North Carolina. The majority of patients were from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Of those referred to dermatology, the mean wait time for a consultation was 217.5 days, significantly longer than the 33-day average for the general population. Common diagnoses included acne, telogen effluvium, and female-pattern hair loss. Most patients received prescriptions, and one-third underwent medical procedures. The study highlights significant delays in care for refugees, which may exacerbate health disparities and underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve access to dermatologic care for this population. Limitations include the small sample size and lack of a comparator group.
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