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Factors Associated with Unmet Healthcare Needs of the Older Korean Population: The Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017

Article information

Korean J Health Promot. 2019;19(2):84-90
Publication date (electronic) : 2019 June 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2019.19.2.84
Chan Hee Jeon1, Jeon Won Kwak1, Min Ho Kwak2, Jeong Hyeon Kim1, Yong Soon Park1
1Department of Family Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
2Department of Educational Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Corresponding author: Yong Soon Park, MD, MPH, PhD. Department of Family Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 77 Sakju-ro, Chuncheon 24253, Korea. Tel: +82-33-240-5311, Fax: +82-33-240-5440, pyongs@hanmail.net
Received 2019 May 15; Revised 2019 June 29; Accepted 2019 July 03.

Abstract

Background

South Korea has the fastest growing aging population in the world, and older people require more healthcare services. Unmet healthcare needs still exist in Korea due to several complex reasons. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs of the older Korean population.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 1,194 older adults, aged 65 years and older, who participated in the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2017. Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and health status, comorbidity, and unmet healthcare needs were included in this study's analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between unmet healthcare needs and other factors.

Results

The prevalence of unmet healthcare needs in this study population was 7.8%. After adjusting for age, sex, education level, household income, living alone, private health insurance, regular walking, body mass index, unintended weight loss, and osteoarthritis, women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.921; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.061–3.479) and unintended weight loss (aOR, 2.218; 95% CI, 1.105–4.453) were more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than their counterparts. The group with general obesity (aOR, 1.691; 95% CI, 1.015–2.816) was more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than the group with normal body mass index.

Conclusions

Among the older Korean population, being a woman, general obesity, and unintended weight loss may be risk factors for unmet healthcare needs.

Keywords: Assessment of healthcare needs; Aging; Weight loss; KNHANES

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Copyright © 2019 Korean Society for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Korean Society for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

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Table 1

General characteristics of study population with and without unmet medical needs (n=1,194)

Table 1

Abbreviation: NHI, national health insurance.

Values are expressed as number and weighted percentage (standard error).

P-values are those of Pearson chi-square test with Rao-Scott correction using F statistic.

aSeperated, divorced, or widowed.

Table 2

Factors associated with unmet medical needs of the older Korean population in the multiple logistic regression analyses

Table 2

Values are expressed as odds ratio (95% confidence interval).

aModel 1: adjusted for age.

bModel 2: adjusted for age, sex, education level, household income, living alone, private health insurance, regular walking, body mass index, unintended weight loss, and osteoarthritis.