Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102292

Yu-Ying Tang, PhD, School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center, 4F, 161, Sec 6, Min-Chuan E. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, 011-886-287923100 ext18763, ytang@ndmctsgh.edu.tw

The purpose of this study was to identify variables important in explaining the frequency of use of health care services by community dwelling chronically ill and to examine the relationships among these variables in Taiwan. A structured home-interview survey methodology was used to collect data from 200 patients with chronic illness in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. Analysis of the data indicated that the predisposing characteristics of the chronically ill have relatively smaller effects on the frequency of health care used than do the enabling and need characteristics. Regression analyses revealed that income adequacy was the strongest positive predictor of physician visits. Chronically ill patients with higher medical expenditures had higher rates of hospitalization. The results indicated that need factors (physical capacity, health status), enabling factors (income adequacy, employment), and predisposing factors (education) are contributing variables to regular physician visits. The health care delivery system needs to place more emphasis on rehabilitation medicine and long-term care services to meet the needs of the growing chronically ill population.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify variables important in explaining the frequency of use of health care services by community dwelling chronically ill
• Examine the relationships among these variables in Taiwan

Keywords: Chronic Illness, Health Service

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.