title: Ethnic-based differences in the association of self-perceived health status and doctor's office utilization: Longitudinal Study on Aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-perceived health status is predictive of a doctor's office visit in the Longitudinal Study on Aging (LSOA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a population-based longitudinal study of persons aged ≥70 years who participated in the Study on Aging in 1984 and a follow-up survey of the LSOA in 1986. The cohort for the study consisted of 560 blacks and 6880 whites who were 70 years or older in 1984. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed separately for blacks and for whites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample was predominantly Caucasian (91.2%) with a mean age 76.8 ± 5.5 years and mean education grade 10 ± 3.7. The majority (82%) lived above the poverty level. Self-reported poor health status predicted the use of doctor's office services among whites (odds ratio [OR] 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.34-7.95), but not in blacks (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.54-4.76).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-perceived health status predicted the use of doctor's office services among older whites but not in older blacks in the LSOA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC 20060, USA.
authors.forename: Nisser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Umar
authors.forename: Muktar H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aliyu
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otado
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gillum
authors.forename: Thomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Obisesan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data