Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T13:01:55.348Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Physician Service Use by Older Adults in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2015

Michelle A. Millar ,
Ross A. Flett ,
Nikolaos Kazantzis ,
Nigel R. Long  and
Carol MacDonald
Michelle A. Millar*
Affiliation:
University of Otago, New Zealand
Ross A. Flett
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand
Nikolaos Kazantzis
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand
Nigel R. Long
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand
Carol MacDonald
Affiliation:
Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
*
Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, PO Box 7343, Wellington, New Zealand
Get access

Abstract

The paper presents data on the use of physician services by 354 older adults in New Zealand. Utilization of physician services and predisposing factors were ascertained by structured interview in a cross-sectional sample of men (n = 155) and women (n = 199) aged 60 years or over. Interview responses were used to test the hypothesis that a combination of predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics are better predictors of physician service use, than need characteristics alone. Hierarchical regression results predicting the use of medical services support our hypothesis, underscoring the importance of need and enabling characteristics for service use. Research applying the behavioral model to the use of services among older adults could be enriched by the inclusion of enabling and predisposing characteristics.

Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , 1999 , pp. 126 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andersen, R.M. (1995). Revisiting the behavioral model and access to medical care: Does it matter? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 36, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cafferata, G.L. (1987). Marital status, living arrangements and the use of health services by elderly persons. Journal of Gerontology, 42, 613–618.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coward, R., McLaughlin, D.K., Duncan, R.R., & Bull, C.N. (1994). An overview of health and aging in rural America. In Coward, R.T., Bull, C.N., Kukulka, G. & Galliher, J.M. (Eds.), Health services for rural elders (pp. 1–32). New York: Spinger.Google Scholar
Elliott, T.R., Shewchuk, R.M., & Richards, J.S. (1999). Caregiver social problem-solving abilities and family member adjustment to recent-onset physical disability. Rehabilitation Psychology, 44, 104–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flett, R. A., Millar, M.A., Long, N.R., & MacDonald, C. (1996). Community Survey of Trauma. Report to the Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Gribben, B. (1992). Do access factors affect utilisation of general practitioner services in south Auckland? New Zealand Medical Journal, 105, 453–455.Google ScholarPubMed
Hirini, P.R., Flett, R.A., Kazantzis, N., Long, N.R., Millar, M.A., & MacDonald, C. (1999). Health care needs for older Maori: A study of kaumatua and kuia. Social Policy Journal, 13.Google Scholar
Hoffman, C., Rice, D. & Sung, H. (1996). Persons with chronic conditions: Their prevalence and costs. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276, 1473–1479.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hornblow, A.R., Bushnell, J.A., Wells, J.E., Joyce, P.R., Oakley-Browne, M.A. (1990). Christchurch psychiatric epidemiology study: Use of mental health services. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 103, 415–417.Google ScholarPubMed
Nelson, M.A. (1993). Race, gender and the effect of social supports on the use of health services by elderly individuals. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 37, 227–246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millar, M.A. (1996). Utilisation of Health Care Services by Older Adults: A New Zealand Study. [Unpublished Masters Thesis] School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Penchansky, R., & Thomas, J.W. (1981). The concept of access. Medical Care, 19, 127–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pennebaker, J.W. (1982). The psychology of physical symptoms. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raphael, B., Lundin, T., & Weisaeth, L. (1989). A Research Method for the Study of Psychologiealand Psychiatric Aspects of Disaster. Copenhagen: Munksgaard.Google Scholar
Statistics New Zealand. (1993). A Picture of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.Google Scholar
Statistics New Zealand. (1998). New Zealand Now, 65 Plus. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.Google Scholar
Strain, L.A. (1991). The use of health services in later life: The influence of health beliefs. Journal of Gerontology, 46, 143–150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hauora, Te Pumanawa (1997) Oranga kaumatua. The Health and Wellbeing of Older Mäori People. A report prepared for the Ministry of Health and Te Puni Kokiri, Te Puni Kokiri, Wellington.Google Scholar
Veit, C.T., & Ware, J.E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychohgy, 51, 730–742.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wan, T.H. (1989). The behavioural model of health care utilization and older people. In Ory, M. & Bond, K. (Eds.)., Aging and health care. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Ware, J.E., Bayliss, M.S., Rogers, W.H., Kosinski, M., & Tarlov, A. (1996). Differences in 4-year health outcomes for elderly and poor, chronically ill patients treated in HMO and fee-forservice systems. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276, 1039–1047.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolinsky, F.D. (1990). Health and health behavior among elderly Americans: An age-stratification perspective. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Wolinsky, F.D., & Coe, R.M. (1984). Physician and hospital utilization among elderly adults: An analysis of the health interview survey. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 8, 71–101.Google Scholar
Wolinsky, F.D., & Johnson, R.J. (1991). The use of health services by older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 46, 345–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed