USLS CON 6TH Student Research Colloquium Poster Entry # 23

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]Humanity is measured not by how we treat those with everything, but by how we care for those with nothing.

[00:00:06]Good day to our viewers. In this video, we will present our research poster on the study entitled Voices Without a Roof, Experience of the Homeless Individuals on Healthcare Services.

[00:00:17]We are group 4A from the SN3B, and I am Mia Pavillar. Together with me are my group members Litz Ordinario, Jasmine Aribe, Harry Salas Jr., and Grant Sarimo.

[00:00:28]The purpose of the study aims to explore homeless individuals' experience of healthcare services, including their knowledge, trust, and perceptions of available services in order to help bridge the gap between health initiatives and the individuals who need them most. This study used a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. Qualitative research gathers participants' experiences, perceptions, and behavior. The participants of the study were chosen through non-probability sampling, specifically purposive sampling. The participants of this study consisted of nine homeless individuals who met the inclusion criteria established by the researchers.

[00:01:08]To maintain the confidentiality and safety of the participants, pseudonyms using the names of flowers known in the Philippines were utilized to identify each participant.

[00:01:18]The participants' ages range from their 20s to 70s, and the majority are female with only one male participant interviewed.

[00:01:26]From each city, namely Bacolod, Silay, and Bago, three participants were interviewed. There was also a variation in the length of time spent being homeless among the participants with the number of years ranging from 1 to 10 and counting.

[00:01:40]With regard to their living environment, the participants from Bacolod and Silay are completely homeless, while those interviewed in Bago reside in an evacuation site temporarily.

[00:01:51]Furthermore, the data revealed that all participants have had access to healthcare services.

[00:01:56]The researchers utilized an interview guide as the instrument, a document that enables organizations to structure the way they conduct their candidate interviews. The first part was dedicated to gathering demographic profiles for participants, including age, sex, geographic location, and duration of homelessness.

[00:02:16]The second part of the interview guide focused on the main question, designed to be broad for open responses, while still clearly reflecting the overall aim of the study, followed by probing questions to further target the specific aspects of the topic and gain a deeper understanding of their insights regarding health care services.

[00:02:35]Proceeding to the results and discussion of the study, six major themes were formed, each having two to three sub-themes which represent the experiences of the participants in health care and health care settings.

[00:02:45]The first theme is navigating the pathways to medication and medical consultation. It explores how the participants obtain medications and the resources they rely on to meet their health care needs, focusing on accessibility and affordability. Its first sub-theme is chasing stocks, refills, and referrals, which describes how homeless individuals first seek free medication stocks and when those are unavailable, pay out of pocket for medicine or refills. The second sub-theme is buying beyond a prescription. This sub-theme describes the participants' decision to self-medicate to survive illness or to maintain health by taking free vitamins and using formal markets or other alternatives when conditions are not are not perceived as severe or do not require hospital treatment. The last sub-theme is leaning on public health facilities, discusses how homeless individuals primarily rely on barangay health facilities, public hospitals, and government-run hospitals, such as city health offices or Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital as their primary and most sought source of care for their medical needs.

[00:03:48]The second major theme is encountering the mixed realities inside health care facilities. It explores the lived experiences of homeless individuals navigating a healthcare system that is frequently seen as indifferent toward as indifferent towards people who are living at edges of society. Its first sub-theme, receiving care with open hands, encapsulates the experiences of participants who encountered systems that looked past their socioeconomic limitations, treating them with non-discriminatory attitude that restored their physical health and recognized their human dignity. The second sub-theme, the second sub-theme, facing discontent and neglect in critical moments. The lived experiences of participants captured this trusting transition from seeking help to facing neglect, where a lack of professional empathy left them feeling discarded and alone at the most at risk. And for its last sub-theme, caught between assistance programs and private private care. It highlights the moments where medical intervention is stalled, not by lack of clinical willingness, but by the transition from funded and mandated services to the private costs of modern and specialized medicine. Third major theme, is struggling with socioeconomic walls in accessing healthcare. It looks into the external factors such as lack of funds, transportation expenses, and lack of some necessary equipment that challenges the participants access to healthcare.

[00:05:11]The first sub-theme, counting every peso for medicine, represents the financial struggles that homeless individuals face when it comes to purchasing their medication when it cannot be given for free by the facilities or if it is out of stock. Sub-theme two, bearing the weight of travel, reflects how the cost of transportation and physical fatigue from traveling to and from health facilities serve as a hindrance to seeking care. The fourth sub-theme, it is enduring self-reliance and coping when healthcare is out of reach. It explores how the participants rely on their own resourcefulness and how they manage their health conditions through personal efforts and alternative coping strategies when health care services are inaccessible. Sub theme one, waiting out the pain, reflects how the participants often manage their initial symptoms by choosing to take a rest and take whatever over-the-counter medications they already have before seeking professional health care services. Sub theme two, surrendering to faith and prayer, highlights how homeless individuals place their faith in God to provide them with good health and well-being.

[00:06:17]Fifth major theme is appreciating through gratitude and contentment amid imperfect care. This theme captures the profound sense of appreciation and emotional fulfillment experienced by the participants as they navigate through the health care system through the health care system.

[00:06:31]Its first sub theme, feeling seen and cared for, describes the psychological safety and emotional relief experienced when health care providers demonstrate genuine presence and attentiveness. For its second sub theme, recognizing special treatment as a back to ease, it explores the satisfaction found when health care systems actively prioritize vulnerable groups prioritized vulnerable groups over regular administrative protocols. Lastly, sub theme three, valuing free medicines and services, captures the profound gratitude and relief experience The last major theme, it is hoping, personal meanings and aspirations for health and recovery. It explores the participants' hopes, personal meanings, and aspirations for health despite their current circumstances. The first sub theme, reclaiming function in livelihood, highlights the participants' hopes and aspirations to regain their functional abilities and restore their means of livelihood. The second sub theme, trusting professionals with the unknown, reflects how participants place trust in health care professionals when faced with uncertainty theory regarding their health. And for the third sub theme, holding on to optimism and acceptance, describes how participants maintain a positive [clears throat] outlook despite their challenging circumstances by embracing acceptance and focusing on the brighter aspects of their lives.

[00:07:46]The findings of this study reveal the complex and lived realities of homeless individuals as they navigate the health care services in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Silay, and Bago. Their experiences are impacted by a complicated interplay of societal barriers, social relationships, adaptive coping, and a constant human need for health, dignity, and recovery.

[00:08:09]Their narratives reveal that being homeless is not merely the absence of having a home, but it is also an experience marked by this also an experience marked by a life of being unseen, excluded, and having gaps in opportunities. However, despite these circumstances, they continue to have strength, faith, and hope.

[00:08:28]>> recommendations, Department of Health officials, to ensure health care services are delivered with constant availability of stocks and refills, and increase promotion or disseminate information of available programs for the homeless.

[00:08:42]Non-governmental organizations personnel, to understand the experiences and situations of homeless individuals.

[00:08:49]Therefore, they can educate the public and local businesses in how to interact with the homeless humanely.

[00:08:55]The College of Nursing administrators, to educate students on the communication skills, attitude, and behavior taken towards interacting with homeless individuals. Family members of homeless individuals, to maintain open communication, to help the homeless individuals support themselves and feel qualified to acquire health-related and social services.

[00:09:17]For nursing students, be empathetic towards homeless individuals. Learn to be respectful and adopt a holistic and advocacy-centered approach.

[00:09:27]Lastly, for future researchers, they are encouraged to utilize this as a reference for future studies. Increase sample size, explore other cities, and recommend gender-specific studies to cultivate more research on the similarities or differences in homeless males and females.

[00:09:45]To our references, please scan the QR code seen on the bottom part of the screen.

[00:09:50]With that, we conclude our presentation on the study entitled Voices Without a Roof, Experience of the Homeless Individuals on Healthcare Services.

[00:09:59]Thank you for watching and have a wonderful day.