Factors Affecting Health Care Utilization in Tehran

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Effective health system planning requires understanding medical service utilization for resource allocation.
• Knowledge of factors influencing healthcare access and use is crucial for informed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors affecting inpatient and outpatient service utilization.
• To analyze utilization patterns across public and private healthcare sectors.

Main Methods:

• A population-based survey conducted in Tehran in 2011.
• Utilized Urban HEART questionnaires for 34,700 households (118,000 individuals).
• Applied a logit model to determine significant factors influencing health service consumption.

Main Results:

• Key utilization factors include age, income level/deciles, job status, household size, and insurance coverage.
• A negative association was observed between healthcare utilization and education level.
• Individuals with chronic diseases showed the highest healthcare utilization; private sector use positively correlated with education.

Conclusions:

• Financial barriers to healthcare access must be addressed by policymakers.
• Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups (elderly, young children, low-income, chronically ill) are recommended.
• Given Iran's aging population, future planning must prioritize the healthcare needs of the elderly.