A national survey of health-service use in Thai elders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the pattern of health-service use and associated factors among elderly people in Thailand.


METHODS
A cross-sectional multi-stage random sampling household survey.


METHODS
4480 People aged 60 and over.


METHODS
Responses to illness among elderly Thai subjects and health-service utilization.


RESULTS
Of 1954 elderly Thai subjects who reported that they had had an illness without hospitalization during the last month, 93% had sought treatment and 7% did nothing. Just over a half (52.8%) used health services. Subjects who had self-limiting symptoms or diseases tended to not use health services, while subjects with chronic conditions did. Sixty-two percent paid for treatment themselves while 28% of them had their bills paid by their children. Independent determinants of health-service use included living in a rural area, being well-educated and better off, not drinking alcohol and the severity of illness identified.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a low rate of state health-service use. Children had an important role in taking care of parents.
Jitapunkul
S
S
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Na Songkhla
M
M
Chayovan
N
N
Chirawatkul
A
A
Choprapawon
C
C
Kachondham
Y
Y
Buasai
S
S
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000639:trends*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D013785:Thailand