The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults
The aim of this cross sectional study was to investigate whether holding a private health plan affects the consumption of medical services (hospitalization and visits to a doctor) and use of medications by older adults. All residents in Bambuí town (Minas Gerais, Brazil) aged > or = 60 years (n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
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| Series: | Cadernos de Saúde Pública |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2002000100018&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1819077642540810240 |
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| author | Maria Fernanda F. Lima-Costa Henrique L. Guerra Josélia O. A. Firmo Pedro G. Vidigal Elizabeth Uchoa Sandhi M. Barreto |
| author_facet | Maria Fernanda F. Lima-Costa Henrique L. Guerra Josélia O. A. Firmo Pedro G. Vidigal Elizabeth Uchoa Sandhi M. Barreto |
| author_sort | Maria Fernanda F. Lima-Costa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this cross sectional study was to investigate whether holding a private health plan affects the consumption of medical services (hospitalization and visits to a doctor) and use of medications by older adults. All residents in Bambuí town (Minas Gerais, Brazil) aged > or = 60 years (n = 1,742) were selected. From these, 92.2% were interviewed and 85.9% were examined (blood tests and physical measurements). After adjustments for counfounders, those under exclusive public coverage (n = 1,296), compared with those holding a private health plan (n = 310), presented some evidence of having worse health status, reported less visits to a doctor, and used a small number of prescribed medications. The main explanation for the aged holding a private health plan was economic, not health. Even though those who had only public health coverage complained more in relation to medical care (70.9%), an important proportion of the aged with a private health care plan presented some kind of complaint (45.2%). Another worrying factor was the difficulty to acquire medication because of financial problems (47.2 and 25.2% reported, respectively). Further investigations are needed to verify whether our results can be generalized to other communities of the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:00:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43d7fe3f247c47819215cbc04a6fdcc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-4464 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:00:27Z |
| publisher | Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cadernos de Saúde Pública |
| spelling | doaj.art-43d7fe3f247c47819215cbc04a6fdcc32022-12-21T18:53:29ZengEscola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo CruzCadernos de Saúde Pública1678-4464181177186S0102-311X2002000100018The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adultsMaria Fernanda F. Lima-Costa0Henrique L. Guerra1Josélia O. A. Firmo2Pedro G. Vidigal3Elizabeth Uchoa4Sandhi M. Barreto5Fundação Oswaldo CruzFundação Oswaldo CruzFundação Oswaldo CruzFundação Oswaldo CruzFundação Oswaldo CruzFundação Oswaldo CruzThe aim of this cross sectional study was to investigate whether holding a private health plan affects the consumption of medical services (hospitalization and visits to a doctor) and use of medications by older adults. All residents in Bambuí town (Minas Gerais, Brazil) aged > or = 60 years (n = 1,742) were selected. From these, 92.2% were interviewed and 85.9% were examined (blood tests and physical measurements). After adjustments for counfounders, those under exclusive public coverage (n = 1,296), compared with those holding a private health plan (n = 310), presented some evidence of having worse health status, reported less visits to a doctor, and used a small number of prescribed medications. The main explanation for the aged holding a private health plan was economic, not health. Even though those who had only public health coverage complained more in relation to medical care (70.9%), an important proportion of the aged with a private health care plan presented some kind of complaint (45.2%). Another worrying factor was the difficulty to acquire medication because of financial problems (47.2 and 25.2% reported, respectively). Further investigations are needed to verify whether our results can be generalized to other communities of the country.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2002000100018&lng=en&tlng=enIdosoMedicamentoServiços de Saúde |
| spellingShingle | Maria Fernanda F. Lima-Costa Henrique L. Guerra Josélia O. A. Firmo Pedro G. Vidigal Elizabeth Uchoa Sandhi M. Barreto The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults Cadernos de Saúde Pública Idoso Medicamento Serviços de Saúde |
| title | The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| title_full | The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| title_fullStr | The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| title_short | The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS): private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| title_sort | bambui health and aging study bhas private health plan and medical care utilization by older adults |
| topic | Idoso Medicamento Serviços de Saúde |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2002000100018&lng=en&tlng=en |
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