Publication: The Utilization of Health Care Services and their Determinants Among the Elderly Population of Dhulikhel Municipality
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Population ageing is a common problem faced in many countries world-wide. Due
to physiological and biochemical changes in the elderly, increased incidence of
diseases is observed. There is often low use of health services by the elderly for a
variety of reasons.
Objective
To examine the status of health care utilization and to determine the factors
associated with utilization of health care among the elderly population of Dhulikhel
Municipality.
Methods
A quantitative descriptive-cross sectional study, with a total number of 200 elderly
people residing in Dhulikhel Municipality, was selected for the study. Data were
collected across the months of June - July 2011 applying two-staged cluster and
systematic random sampling method. Both descriptive and inferential statistics
were measured.
Results
Sixty eight percent of the elderly visited medical personnel in the past year. Eight
percent of them visited the emergency department where most of them reported
with symptoms attributed to heart disease. Among 200 elderly, 12.5% of them were
admitted to the hospital and 53.0% utilized diagnostic services. Age, marital status,
activities of daily living, and regular medication showed significant association with
health services utilization at 95% level of confidence (p >0.05).
Conclusion
Marital status, daily living habits, existence of chronic disease, and regular
medication demonstrated significant association with the utilization of health care.
Social support services, informal education, and awareness programs targeting the
senior citizens and studies covering a diverse population are recommended.
KEY WORDS
Elderly, Senior Citizens, Utilization of health care
Description
Sanjel S,1 Mudbhari N,2 Risal A,3 Khanal K1
1Department of Community Medicine
2Department of Nursing
3Department of Psychiatry
Kathmandu University School of Medical sciences,
Dhulikhel Hospital - Kathmandu University Hospital
Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre, Nepal