Faculty Mentor: Akiko Kamimura (Sociology, University of Utah)

Free clinics serve as a critical safety net for medically underserved populations, including uninsured individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and undocumented immigrants (Darnell, 2010). While previous studies have explored patient satisfaction in these settings (Ellet et al., 2010; Kamimura et al., 2015), less is known about how patients interpret and narrate their illness experiences. This study examines how free clinic patients make sense of their health and healthcare encounters through a narrative medicine framework.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 adult patients at a free clinic in the Rocky Mountain region, including both English- and Spanish-speaking participants. The McGill Illness Narrative Interview (MINI) (Groleau et al., 2006) guided the interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify shared experiences, beliefs, and emotional responses related to illness and patient-provider interaction.

Participants described a range of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and orthopedic issues. Their narratives reflected emotional distress, stigma, low self-esteem, and family disruption resulting from illness. Many patients expressed feelings of isolation and described the mental toll of navigating chronic disease while lacking adequate resources. While most reported high satisfaction with care, some noted language barriers, short consultation times, and limited follow-up as ongoing challenges.

These findings highlight the complex psychosocial dimensions of illness that often remain invisible in traditional biomedical care. Incorporating narrative-based approaches into free clinic settings may help providers better understand patients lived experiences, foster trust, and enhance the delivery of patient-centered care. Future research should continue to explore illness narratives among underserved populations, particularly in resource-limited settings, to inform more equitable and responsive models of care.

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