The impact of the SARS epidemic on the utilization of medical services: SARS and the fear of SARS.
Using interrupted time-series analysis and National Health Insurance data between January 2000 and August 2003, this study assessed the impacts of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic on medical service utilization in Taiwan. At the peak of the SARS epidemic, significant reductions in ambulatory care (23.9%), inpatient care (35.2%), and dental care (16.7%) were observed. People's fears of SARS appear to have had strong impacts on access to care. Adverse health outcomes resulting from accessibility barriers posed by the fear of SARS should not be overlooked.
Chang
Hong-Jen
HJ
Bureau of National Health Insurance, Taipei, Taiwan. hjchang@mail.nhi.gov.tw
Huang
Nicole
N
Lee
Cheng-Hua
CH
Hsu
Yea-Jen
YJ
Hsieh
Chi-Jeng
CJ
Chou
Yiing-Jenq
YJ
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005239:Fear; D005544:Forecasting; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006302:Health Services Research; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000639:trends; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology