Factors associated with patients wanting assistance with their social risks

INTRODUCTION: Screening and addressing social risks (e.g., finances, food, housing, transportation) has increasingly been used to evaluate health care system performance and to set payment rates. The ability for health systems to intervene is limited by patients who endorse social risks but do not want help from their health care provider. 

METHODS: Data were from Kaiser Permanente's 2022 Social Needs Survey, a representative sample from all eight regional markets. The primary exposures were respondents' demographics. The outcome was whether a patient wanted assistance with social risks assessed using weighted logistic regression modeling conducted in 2025. 

RESULTS: This cross-sectional study sample included 5,905 respondents. 56.3% were women, mean age was 50.7 (+/- 17.3), 9.0% were Black, 26.3% Hispanic, 43.6% White, and 26.8% had an income below $50,000. 34.8% had at least one social risk, 9.9% had three or more, and 31.7% wanted assistance. In fully adjusted models among respondents with social risks, those with multiple social risks versus one (two: OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9-3.4; three or more: OR 11.3 95% CI, 6.9-18.4), self-identifying as Black versus White (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7-4.3), or had an income <$50,000 (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6) had higher odds of wanting assistance. Being less than 65 was associated with lower odds of wanting assistance (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.6). 

CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of respondents with social risks wanted assistance from their health care team. These findings can help health plans and policymakers to target outreach and interventions for individuals who experience social risks.