Healthcare Service Utilization and Associated Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly in Northern Taiwan: One Medical Center's Experience

摘要

Summary Background/Purpose To find differences in healthcare utilization among urban community-dwelling elderly in northern Taiwan in comparison with national survey data and to determine the factors associated with such utilization. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1358 elderly (601 men, 44.3%; 757 women, 55.7%) who had received a senior-citizen health examination between March and November of 2009. Andersen's behavioral model of healthcare was adopted in this study. Results Up to 94.5% of elderly preferred utilizing Western medicine to treat their illnesses, which was higher than the 77.8% in 2005 and 68% in 2009. Only 2.1% chose to ignore their illnesses. Women and respondents aged 80 years old or older tended to utilize numerous types of healthcare services. Education level, living arrangement, being treated for chronic diseases, perceived health status, Brief Symptom Rating Scale score, and health concerns all influenced participants' healthcare service utilization. Conclusions To reduce the gap in healthcare utilization between different domicile people living in urban and non-urban areas, medical treatment should be modified by different health-seeking behaviors in these areas.