Analysis of the current situation of the utilization of medical resources and factors influencing the health-seeking behaviors of patients with chronic diseases

Abstract

Background In the face of the increasing rate of population aging, the prevalence of chronic diseases among middle-aged and elderly people is also rapidly increasing. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between factors influencing outpatient and hospitalization health-seeking behaviors among middle-aged and elderly people with chronic diseases. Methods The study population was consecutive patients with chronic diseases who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) baseline and follow-up surveys in 2018. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze the independent and common factors affecting outpatient visits and hospitalization visits. Results A total of 14,036 chronic disease patients aged 45 years and older were included as survey respondents in this study, only 18.87% had outpatient visits in the past month and 19.24% had hospitalization visits in the past year. The adjusted model showed that age, sex, education level, type of residence, and self-reported health level were factors influencing the outpatient health-seeking behavior of chronic disease patients (p < 0.05), and age, sex, type of residence, hukou type, monthly income, type of health insurance, and self-reported health level were factors influencing hospitalization health-seeking behavior of chronic diseases (p < 0.05). Age, sex, and self-reported health level were common influences on outpatient and hospitalization health-seeking behaviors of patients with chronic diseases. Education level was a separate influencing factor for outpatient visits, and hukou type, monthly income, and health insurance were separate influencing factors for hospitalization visits. Type of residence was a multi-categorical variable with differential effects on different health-seeking behaviors. Conclusions The chronic disease patients have lower health-seeking behaviors, and this study suggests that there are similarities and differences in the factors affecting outpatient and inpatient health-seeking behaviors of chronic disease patients. In order to improve patients' health-seeking behavior, it is important to identify and take appropriate measures to intervene on the influencing factors in time.