Differences in the use of health services by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan elderly

This study examined the importance of place of residence on the elderly's use of health services through Andersen's framework of health service utilization. The study found that nonmetropolitan elderly, both farm and nonfarm, make fewer physician visits than their metropolitan counterparts. This difference is not explained by differences in their predisposing or need characteristics. No residential differences were found in the number of short-term hospital stays or in the number of days of bed disability. No evidence was found that nonmetropolitan elderly substitute days of bed disability for physician care or for hospital stays. Also, little residential variation was found in the effect of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on physician use. The most likely explanation for the observed differences in physician use is the shortage of physicians in nonmetropolitan areas. However, without the ability to attach contextual information to national data on health status and service use, the relative importance of access to services cannot be adequately addressed.