Lei Xu, Jia Wang, Caixiu Xue, Ke Yang, Xiaohui Xie, Wansha Zhou, Lianhong Wang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Accelerated population aging and the growing prevalence of various geriatric diseases in China have placed older adults in a vulnerable position regarding access to health services, including medical care and health checkup services. This study aimed to investigate the use of health services by older adults and its influencing factors.
Methods: A total of 9401 respondents aged 60 years and older from the 2020 wave (wave 5) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. Employing the Behavioral Model of Health Service Use as a framework, the study categorized the determinants of health service utilization among the elderly into three distinct segments: predisposing factors, enabling factors, and needs-based factors. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine three factors affecting the use of medical care services.
Results: The rate of utilization of health services (including medical care and health checkup services) among older adults was 33.34%. The utilization rates of outpatient visits, hospitalization care, and health checkup services were 21.5%, 23.2%, and 55.30%, respectively. Factors influencing the use of health services varied by different service types. Needs-based factors, including chronic diseases and self-perceived health status, played an essential role in medical care services. Predisposing factors (age, gender, personal income), enabling factors (medical insurance, social insurance), and needs factors (chronic diseases, ADL) will all significantly health service utilization among older adults.
Conclusion: The overall level of health service utilization among older adults is low, so policies and decision-makers can consider improving the development of targeted measures for different service types to increase the utilization rate of medical care services for the elderly and promote the health equity of vulnerable groups.
期刊介绍：
BMC Geriatrics is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the health and healthcare of older people, including the effects of healthcare systems and policies. The journal also welcomes research focused on the aging process, including cellular, genetic, and physiological processes and cognitive modifications.
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