title: Factors associated with the overuse or underuse of health care services among medical aid beneficiaries in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare and contrast demographic characteristics and health care service utilization between overusers and underusers of health care services and to identify factors associated with the overuse or underuse of health care services among the medical aid beneficiaries in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis was performed using health care costs and medical aid case management progress data. Data on demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and inappropriate health care service user category (overuse or underuse) were provided by the Medical-Aid Case Management Center of Korea, and heath care service reimbursement data were provided by the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC). Data on 22,697 beneficiaries were used for analysis, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine factors that are associated with overuse and underuse of health care services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study results revealed that older individuals, women, unemployed individuals, type 1 medical aid beneficiaries, and those with higher education and disabilities were more likely to belong to the overuse group, but urban residents, compared to metropolitan residents, and those with higher HRQoL were more likely to belong to the underuse group (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding factors associated with the overuse or underuse of health care services may help to provide tailored case management services to improve the HRQoL of the beneficiaries and optimize their use of health care services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promoting appropriate use of health care services may enhance clients' quality of life and preserve resources for other essential services for medical aid beneficiaries.
authors: Department of Nursing, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors: Yang Heui
authors: YH
authors: Ahn
authors: Eui Sook
authors: ES
authors: Kim
authors: Ok Kyung
authors: OK
authors: Ham
authors: Soo Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Seung Sik
authors: SS
authors: Hwang
authors: Sang Hee
authors: SH
authors: Chun
authors: Na Yeon
authors: NY
authors: Gwon
authors: Jin Yi
authors: JY
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors