The effect of smoking on health service utilization
Yonsei Medical Journal
;
: 223-233, 1993.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-183676
ABSTRACT
This study involved direct observation of the differences in prevalence of disease and utilization of medical care by smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers. The data was collected from the 1989 Korean National Health Survey (1989 KNHS). A total of 5,201 individuals ages 20 to 59 were randomly selected from the whole Korean population using the three-stage stratified random sampling. Based on the logistic regression, the following results were obtained. Compared with the non-smokers, the relative risks for an acute disease were 1.9 and 1.7 for male ex-smokers and female current smokers, respectively. Smoking behavior significantly increased utilization of health services such as admissions (RR = 2.5 for current smokers) among females, outpatient visits (RR = 2.1 for ex-smokers, RR = 2.3 for age began to smoke was less than 18 years) among males and (RR = 1.5 for current smokers) among females. Furthermore, the utilization of outpatient services for ex-smokers who were self-concerned about their health was 3.4 times higher than the non-smokers. Based on the weighted least square regression model the days of medication for male current smokers and ex-smokers were significantly longer than non-smokers. These effects persisted after controlling for major identified confounding factors. Thus, the results of this study confirmed that smoking is an important cause of diseases and a major contributing factor to the use of health services.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Smoking
/
Least-Squares Analysis
/
Prevalence
/
Regression Analysis
/
Health Services
/
Korea
/
Middle Aged
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Yonsei Medical Journal
Year:
1993
Type:
Article
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