Status and influencing factors of outpatient and inpatient service utilization among empty-nest aging population in China / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To examine the status quo and influencing factors of outpatient and inpatient service utilization among empty-nest aging population in China and to provide reference for future research.Methods:A total of 3 918 empty-nest elderlies aged 60 and above were extracted from the database of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study which was conducted in 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the influencing factors of outpatient and inpatient services utilization.Results:The four-week outpatient visit rate and the one-year hospitalization rate in empty-nest aging population was 20.80% and 18.20% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, chronic diseases, self-rated health status, depression status and social activities were the factors influencing the four-week outpatient visit rate. Age, chronic disease, self-rated health status, activity of daily living, economic support from children and medical insurance were the factors influencing the one-year hospitalization rate.Conclusions:The four-week outpatient visit rate of empty-nest aging population in China was slightly lower than that of elderlies at large, the one-year hospitalization rate of empty-nest aging population was higher than that of elderlies at large, and the level of medical utilities by empty-nest aging population may be insufficient and its influencing factors are generally complicated, calling for further study.