title: Factors associated with the use of publicly funded services by Hong Kong Chinese older adults.
abstract: This article analyzes cross-sectional data collected from a representative community sample of 2003 Chinese elderly people aged 60 or above in Hong Kong. We examined whether the use of publicly funded health services by older adults is equitable under the framework of Andersen model. A number of predisposing, enabling, and need factors were assessed as predictors of utilization in four categories of services including hospital admission, emergency room, general outpatient clinics, and specialist outpatient clinics. It was found that utilization of these four health services was consistently correlated with need factors. Specifically, self-rated health status and particular types of chronic illness were consistently and significantly related to utilization for all four of services in Hong Kong. On the other hand, age and family support were related to hospital admission whereas functional impairment was associated with the use of emergency room and general outpatient clinics. Findings suggest that publicly funded health services in Hong Kong are used equitably by elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Sau Po Centre on Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. klchou@hku.hk
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014600:Utilization Review