Assessing unmet health-care needs of the elderly in west of Iran: A case study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of perceived need, seeking behavior and utilization of health services in the elderly population of Sanandaj (west of Iran). Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 800 elderly people in Sanandaj. Subjects were selected using multistage sampling and data were collected using self-report questionnaires. A multivariate logistic model with odds ratios (ORs) was used to determine the relationship of independent variables with seeking perceived need. Also, the concentration index was used to measure the inequality in using health services. Findings The perceived need for outpatient (during the last 30 days) and inpatient health-care services (during the past 12 months) was 69.7% and 29.7%, respectively. Among them, the unmet need for outpatient and inpatient health-care services was 46.6% and 17%, respectively. Having health insurance (adjusted OR 12.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–140.11), middle economic status (adjusted OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.30–20.51) and being in an age group of 65–70 years (adjusted OR 7.60; CI 1.42–40.61) increased the chance of seeking inpatient care. Also, being in an age group of 60–65 years (adjusted OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18–0.95) reduced the chance of seeking outpatient care. There was also a pro-rich inequality in using outpatient health services. Originality/value The elderly population suffers from unmet health-care needs, especially in outpatient services. The most important reason for not seeking outpatient and inpatient services was financial barriers and self-medication, respectively. So, designing targeted policies and interventions to address barriers in the conversion of need to demand in the elderly population is essential.

How Work Pattern Transformation May Affect the Mental Health of Older Workers Faced With Unmet Health Care Needs During the Pandemic? A Comparative Investigation of Different Work Models

“…Unmet health care need is a longstanding problem especially in underdeveloped areas, which is further deteriorated during the pandemic. [49][50][51] This study reveals how the pandemic-induced health care resource shortages impact the mental health problem among older people and compares such effect among them with different work patterns. Previous studies document the association between unmet health care needs and the presence of depressive symptoms.…”

Policy interplay among social health insurance system, pension system, delayed retirement initiative and implications for the self‐rated health status of older workers

“…Consistent with the stream of studies proposing the beneficial effect of postponing retirement, this study provides empirical evidence that late retirement could contribute to health maintenance among older adults by maintaining their social and occupational status and gaining social support. In emerging economies where universal healthcare coverage has not achieved, unmet health care need amongst older people is prevalent 30 . As such, the social health insurance would be a most important solution for older people to cope with out‐of‐pocket health expenditure in developing countries 31,32 .…”

“…T A B L E 2 (Continued) coverage has not achieved, unmet health care need amongst older people is prevalent. 30 As such, the social health insurance would be a most important solution for older people to cope with out-of-pocket health expenditure in developing countries. 31,32 The employment-based social health insurance could help reduce economic burdens on older adults and facilitate personal health management, due to the greater reimbursement rate of medical expense and a larger reimbursement scope of medicines.…”

Late career participation of late retirees in the age of the silver tsunami: understanding the influencing mechanism of health status and employment-based health insurance participation

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