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Patterns of physician utilization by the elderly: a multivariate analysis
Medical Care
|November 1, 1982
Summary
This study explains physician use in older adults. Need factors are key for visit volume, while attitudes and accessibility influence initial contact for elderly healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Understanding physician utilization is crucial for elderly healthcare planning.
- Factors influencing healthcare access and service use among older adults require examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply Andersen's conceptual approach to explain physician utilization among noninstitutionalized elderly persons.
- To assess the impact of need, financial resources, service accessibility, attitudes, and demographics on physician contact and visit volume.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple regression techniques to analyze survey data.
- Collected data through in-depth personal interviews with 753 noninstitutionalized older adults in northeastern New York.
Main Results:
- Need factors significantly predicted physician visit volume more than initial contact.
- Attitudinal and background characteristics were more influential in predicting initial physician contact than visit volume.
- Service availability and accessibility were key for initial contact, while financial resources were the primary predictor for visit volume.
Conclusions:
- Differentiated predictors for initial physician contact versus visit volume in the elderly population.
- Highlights the complex interplay of need, resources, attitudes, and accessibility in shaping healthcare utilization among older adults.