Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Background: The impending rapid change in Thailand’s older population has many important implications for health policy, especially older adults’ health problems, which are major cause of them accessing health services. This study aimed to study factors affecting access to health services for older...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2023-02-01
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| Series: | F1000Research |
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| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/11-467/v2 |
| _version_ | 1797832747109056512 |
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| author | Areeya Jirathananuwat |
| author_facet | Areeya Jirathananuwat |
| author_sort | Areeya Jirathananuwat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The impending rapid change in Thailand’s older population has many important implications for health policy, especially older adults’ health problems, which are major cause of them accessing health services. This study aimed to study factors affecting access to health services for older adults in urban communities in Thailand, as well as performing a situational survey of health service utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 886 older adults from four different neighborhoods (slum, city, suburban, and community building). Data were collected using an interview questionnaire. Information about health service variables were extracted and followed the five dimensions of accessibility by Penchansky & Thomas: availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability and acceptability. Data were analyzed using percentage mean and standard deviation (SD). Analysis of factors affecting access to health service was performed using Logistic regression. Results: The utilization of health services was high among five dimensions. There is no significant difference among other dimensions statistically from all neighborhoods. Only the acceptability dimension with notable difference (p=0.003), city neighborhood has the lowest acceptability dimension (mean 4.0, SD.=0.62), while community building has the highest one (mean 4.3, SD.=0.55). Factors affecting older adults access to health services were using health insurance rights for health care service, and concern about the necessity of health care. Conclusions: Encouraging older adults to change their health insurance rights to the nearest hospital and promoting the provision of holistic health information, which will support older adults in accessing more health services to improve their health outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:13:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b2849abe2e847279c16bdd5e33479f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:13:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b2849abe2e847279c16bdd5e33479f22023-05-06T00:00:00ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022023-02-0111142983Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Areeya Jirathananuwat0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3807-2475Department of Health Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Health Technology, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, 10300, ThailandBackground: The impending rapid change in Thailand’s older population has many important implications for health policy, especially older adults’ health problems, which are major cause of them accessing health services. This study aimed to study factors affecting access to health services for older adults in urban communities in Thailand, as well as performing a situational survey of health service utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 886 older adults from four different neighborhoods (slum, city, suburban, and community building). Data were collected using an interview questionnaire. Information about health service variables were extracted and followed the five dimensions of accessibility by Penchansky & Thomas: availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability and acceptability. Data were analyzed using percentage mean and standard deviation (SD). Analysis of factors affecting access to health service was performed using Logistic regression. Results: The utilization of health services was high among five dimensions. There is no significant difference among other dimensions statistically from all neighborhoods. Only the acceptability dimension with notable difference (p=0.003), city neighborhood has the lowest acceptability dimension (mean 4.0, SD.=0.62), while community building has the highest one (mean 4.3, SD.=0.55). Factors affecting older adults access to health services were using health insurance rights for health care service, and concern about the necessity of health care. Conclusions: Encouraging older adults to change their health insurance rights to the nearest hospital and promoting the provision of holistic health information, which will support older adults in accessing more health services to improve their health outcomes.https://f1000research.com/articles/11-467/v2Access to health service Elderly Urban areaseng |
| spellingShingle | Areeya Jirathananuwat Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] F1000Research Access to health service Elderly Urban areas eng |
| title | Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | Factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in Thailand: a cross-sectional study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | factors affecting access to health services by older adults in an urban community in thailand a cross sectional study version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| topic | Access to health service Elderly Urban areas eng |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/11-467/v2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT areeyajirathananuwat factorsaffectingaccesstohealthservicesbyolderadultsinanurbancommunityinthailandacrosssectionalstudyversion2peerreview2approved |