title: [The need for health consultation services and related factors among non-users of health consultation services residing in urban public apartment complexes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the need for health consultation services among non-users of such services within residents of urban public apartment complexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In December 2011, a cross-sectional mail survey was conducted with the inclusion of 2,000 elderly residents, randomly selected from a total of 6,000 residents. We asked about the need for health consultation services, demographic data, daily living situation, medical and care-giving experiences, and health concerns and desires. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 534 questionnaires were analyzed from the 553 respondents (response rate 27.7%). Respondents expressed need for health consultation services: very important 21.5%; important 38.2%; unknown 19.1%; not so much important 14.0%; unimportant 6.9%. The analyses revealed that people with greater need tended to have the following features compared to those with less need: lack of independence in daily activities (P=.03), experiencing stress in family relationships (P=.003), having nurses to consult about health concerns (P=.04), do not necessarily need doctor's consultation regarding their health problems (P<.001), feel it difficult to consult doctors when they have health-related questions (P=.007), know about locally-available health consultation services (P=.02). They also wanted to use services they can visit accompanied by acquaintances (P=.002), with one-on-one health consultation regarding their problems (P=.003), where service is free (P=.008), where they receive advice about their illnesses (P<.001) and about their medical and caregiving cost (P=.008), and maintain contact with others using the services (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the response rate was low, most of residents expressed a need for a health consultation service. Based on the results of this study, a health consultation service provided by nurses may be an effective solution. They also desire the services to be accessible in the company of their acquaintances, provided one-on-one, free of charge, and to provide opportunities not only for consultation concerning their illnesses but also for interaction with others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, The Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing.
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Chizuru
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otoguro
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014041:Tokyo; D014505:Urban Population