A systematic review of studies on current status and influencing factors of unmet medical needs in Korea

To identify gender- and age-related associations between adult dental checkups and unmet dental care needs, we analyzed data of 14,000 participants, from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). Data were collected via self-report questionnaires and interviews. The complex sample chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that 31.7% of participants had unmet dental care needs. Within the previous 12 months, 56.5% did not undertake dental checkups, and 29.3% did not use a dental service. Odds ratios (ORs) of the unmet dental needs were 8.87 (confidence interval (CI) = 7.80–10.09, p < 0.001) for those who did not use dental services and 1.28 (CI = 1.13–1.44, p < 0.001) for those who did not have dental checkups. Significant age-dependent associations between those not receiving dental checkups and the rate of unmet dental care included men and women aged 50–59 years and women ≥70 years. However, unmet dental care needs for men aged ≥70 years not undergoing dental checkups were not statistically significant (p = 0.311). Overall, it was found that the use of dental service and dental checkups were the influencing factors for unmet dental care needs.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between Dental Checkups and Unmet Dental Care Needs: An Examination of Cross-Sectional Data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018)

Jang

Kim

2021

“…Adolescents having high levels of stress were more likely to report unmet healthcare needs. Through the literature, it was known that psychological problems were closely related to unmet healthcare needs [ 7 , 34 , 35 ]. Specifically, adolescents having special healthcare needs coupled with anxiety had increased unmet healthcare needs [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, adolescents having special healthcare needs coupled with anxiety had increased unmet healthcare needs [ 34 ]. A systematic literature review of unmet healthcare needs in Korea also revealed that unmet healthcare needs were high in adults with depression [ 7 ]. Similarly, the literature [ 7 , 26 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] has reported that a relevant variable for unmet healthcare needs is perceived health status—a need factor—that is often discussed with negative mental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In previous studies, the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs varied across the population. In older adults, economic reasons were the main factors associated with unmet healthcare needs, whereas in the case of adults, the related factors were lack of time and lightness of symptoms [ 7 ]. In addition, the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs was high in those who had little use of medical services for disease prevention, such as medical screening [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prevalence of Unmet Healthcare Needs in Adolescents and Associated Factors: Data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018)

Park

2021

Adolescent health is considered the basis of adult health, and the unmet healthcare needs in adolescents are an important issue to be solved. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs, and examine its associated factors among adolescents in Korea based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services, using data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 to 2018). This survey’s data source comprised 12- to 18-year-old adolescents, of which 1425 provided information on their unmet healthcare needs, as well as their predisposing, enabling, and need factors. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 25.0 was used. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess each variable, whereas multiple logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors. The overall prevalence of unmet healthcare needs was 5.5%. The factors that had statistically significant relationships with adolescents’ unmet healthcare needs were: age; stress perceptions; housing types; and perceived health status. Unlike previous studies that presented related factors on vulnerable groups, this study’s results presented unmet healthcare needs and related factors for all Korean adolescents using a national survey dataset. Hence, its findings could provide feedback on current policies, and guide future studies.

“…These characteristics of our participants may appear to influence the results, where the type of health insurance did not affect unmet healthcare needs. However, studies report that Korean health insurance covers 67%, which is lower than 80% of an average coverage of OECD [32], and this leads to unmet healthcare of up to 10% [33]. Therefore, further studies to examine the relationship between health insurance type and unmet healthcare needs of vulnerable children are needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unmet Healthcare Needs of Children in Vulnerable Families in South Korea: Finding from the Community Child Center Child Panel Survey

Baek

Choi

Lee

2020

Presented in this paper is a study that examined the status of unmet healthcare needs of children in vulnerable families and identified factors affecting such unmet needs. The Community Child Center (CCC) Child Panel Survey data in Korea were used. A multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors influencing unmet healthcare needs of children. Influencing factors comprised predisposing, enabling, and need factors based on the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization. A total of 340 sixth-graders from vulnerable families participated, and 96 (28.2%) children had unmet healthcare needs. Factors included absence of an after-school caregiver (OR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.16, 3.27]), perceived physical symptoms (OR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.02, 1.73]), parental indifference (OR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.002, 1.77]), duration of daily stay at CCCs (OR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.01, 1.71]), and satisfaction with CCC teachers (OR = 0.65, 95% CI [0.49, 0.85]). The relationship with parents and CCC teachers had the strongest influence on unmet healthcare needs of children. In order to reduce the unmet healthcare needs of children in vulnerable families, existing support structures should be expanded to offer financial and administrative support for children’s parents and CCC teachers.