Health-related worries, perceived health status, and health care utilization.
This study examines the association of health-related worries (over cancers, diabetes, work-related stress, heart attack, obesity, general physical fitness, and/or other health conditions) and perceived health status (excellent, good, fair or poor) to the utilization of health care services for 19, 139 Japanese local public service employees. Data on health-related worries and health status were obtained from a self-administered questionnaire survey in 1988 and analyzed in relation to the subsequent 12-month utilization of health care. Results showed that perceived health status was associated with the utilization for almost all medical conditions and so was worry over a specific condition and the subsequent utilization of health care services. The implication of these findings is that measures targeting the relief of an employee's health-related worries, through either health consultation or other health programs, may contribute to the reduction of an employee's health care utilization and costs.
Ren
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A
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Okubo
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T
Takahashi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires