Determinants of health services utilization among the black and white elderly

Andersen's (1968) behavioral model was used to assess whether factors predictive of health services utilization are the same or different for elderly blacks and whites. We hypothesized that because the black elderly have fewer resources, lower psychological well-being, and are in worse health, situational and attitudinal factors suggested by the model have different effects for blacks and whites. Using three measures of utilization--physician contact, hospital contact, and nights hospitalized--our findings show some support for differential effects, particularly in the case of physician contact. Neither resource factors such as health insurance nor psychological well-being were predictive of utilization within the black population. We conclude with some suggestions for future research.