Unmet health care needs of older people

Prevalence and predictors in a French cross-sectional survey

Dados Bibliográficos

ID19035141
AutoresMarie Herr (0000-0002-1836-705X, autor correspondente), Jean‐Jacques Arvieu (AG Medical (France)), J-J Arvieu, Philippe Aegerter (0000-0002-9156-5028), Jean‐marie Robine (0000-0002-4111-6195), J-M Robine, Joël Ankri (0000-0002-0070-6471)
Ano2013
Volume24
Fascículo5
Páginas808-813
Data de publicação2013-11-27
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEuropean Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1101-1262 • E-ISSN: 1464-360X
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/eurpub/ckt179
PMID24287029
PMCIDPMC4168041
OpenAlexW2068613850
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas27
Referências citadas28

BACKGROUND: Unmet health care needs are associated with negative health outcomes, yet there is a paucity of data on this problem among older people. OBJECTIVE: To identify unmet health care needs and associated factors among older people in France. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population study of people aged 70 years or older in which 2350 respondents were interviewed in 2008-10. During a standardized interview, a nurse examined health problems, functional abilities and use of health care resources. Unmet health care needs were defined as situations in which a participant needed health care and did not receive it. RESULTS: The mean age was 83.2 ± 7.4 years. Almost all participants reporting a chronic disease (98.6%) had consulted a physician in the previous 6 months. Unmet health care needs were found in 23.0% of the sample and mainly consisted of lack of dental care (prevalence of 17.7%), followed by lack of management of visual or hearing impairments (prevalence of 4.4% and 3.1%, respectively). Age was the main factor associated with unmet health care needs [compared with people aged 70-79: odds ratio80-89 years = 2.26 (1.70-3.03), odds ratio90 years and over = 3.85 (2.71-5.45)]. Other associated factors were regular smoking, homebound status, poor socioeconomic conditions, depression, limitations in instrumental activities of daily living and low medical density. CONCLUSION: Unmet health care needs affect almost one-quarter of older people in France. Efforts should be made to improve oral health and develop home care, especially for the oldest-olds

Activities of daily living · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Logistic regression · National Health Interview Survey · Odds · Odds ratio · Population · Psychiatry · Socioeconomic status · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology