ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between vertical trust in the healthcare system and participation in routine health examinations. METHODS: Data from the 2008 Pusan Health Survey were analyzed for this study. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the influence of possible confounders (sex, age, education, monthly mean household income, horizontal trust) on participation in routine health examinations according to trust in the healthcare system. RESULTS: In a total sample of 7,683 participants, 3,756 (48.9%) were classified as health examination participants. Respondents with high trust in the healthcare system had significantly higher odds ratios of participation, 1.17 (95% CI 1.03-1.33), after multiple adjustments. CONCLUSION: Vertical trust in the healthcare system was significantly associated with higher odds of participation in routine health examinations. Improvements to the healthcare system have potential for increasing participation in routine health examinations.