title: Does time pressure create barriers for people to receive preventive health services?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regular use of recommended preventive health services can promote good health and prevent disease. However, individuals may forgo obtaining preventive care when they are busy with competing activities and commitments. This study examined whether time pressure related to work obligations creates barriers to obtaining needed preventive health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2002-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were used to measure the work hours of 61,034 employees (including 27,910 females) and their use of five preventive health services (flu vaccinations, routine check-ups, dental check-ups, mammograms and Pap smear). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to test the association between working hours and use of each of those five services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals working long hours (>60 per week) were significantly less likely to obtain dental check-ups (OR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.72-0.91) and mammograms (OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.31-0.73). Working 51-60 h weekly was associated with less likelihood of receiving Pap smear (OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.46-0.96). No association was found for flu vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time pressure from work might create barriers for people to receive particular preventive health services, such as breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening and dental check-ups. Health practitioners should be aware of this particular source of barriers to care.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, USA. Electronic address: yao.xiaoxi@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Xiaoxi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Center for Health Outcomes, Policy and Evaluation Studies, USA.
authors.forename: Allard E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dembe
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Division of Health Services, Management and Policy, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wickizer
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000592:standards; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Cancer screening; Dental check-up; Flu vaccination; Mammogram; Overtime; Pap smear; Preventive health services; Time pressure; Work hours