title: Factors affecting unmet healthcare needs of older people in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the fact that the National Health Insurance programmes have ensured universal coverage for Koreans, disparities in access to health care and unmet healthcare needs still exist in Korea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyse factors affecting unmet healthcare needs of older people in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study had a cross-sectional, descriptive design using secondary data taken from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2007-2009. A complex sampling design was used, and the participants included a nationally representative sample of 3943 people older than 64 years. Socio-demographic variables, subjective health, existence of chronic diseases, quality of life and unmet healthcare needs were included in the study instruments. Logistic regression analyses were performed in order to examine the relationship between unmet healthcare needs and independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the results, 29.4% of older women and 14.0% of older men had not visited clinics or hospitals when they needed to obtain healthcare services (unmet healthcare needs) during the past 12 months. Older women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.831, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.428-2.347] and those with poor subjective health (OR = 1.708, 95% CI = 1.371-2.126) and arthritis (OR = 1.278, 95% CI = 1.029-1.586) were more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than their counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to decrease unmet healthcare needs, targeting high-risk groups (especially for older women), are needed in order to prevent disability, decrease mortality and promote the quality of life of older people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Ham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019472:Universal Health Insurance
keywords: Assessment of Healthcare Needs; Chronic Diseases; Older People