Comparison of self and health professionals' ratings of the health of community-based elderly.
Perceptions of 269 community-based elderly persons and eighty health-care professionals were compared for opinions related to the health-care needs of the elderly, and major barriers faced by the elderly to the utilization of health services. The data indicate a high degree of incongruence between the perceptions of the elderly and those of the professionals. Health professionals were not good predictors of the health status of the elderly, and they did not accurately predict the barriers faced by the elderly seeking health care. Congruence of responses was found only related to the cost of health services. Reasons for these differences were explored, and recommendations for future program planning were made.
Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
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Wilson
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Netting
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care