Altern Ther Health Med. 2023 Dec 8:AT9481. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: China has an aging society; the issue of aging is becoming increasingly serious. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the demand for medical treatment and health care services among the elderly and offer countermeasures and suggestions.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire method was used to inquire about 386 elderly people in three communities from Bincheng District, Binzhou City, and Shandong Province.
RESULTS: The demand of community-dwelling elderly for chronic disease medication consultation services was 91.71%, with 53.88% in urgent need of the service. Their demand for dietary guidance was 91.19%, with 52.07% having a great demand for the guidance. The demand for medical expenses guarantee was 87.82%, and those in great need accounted for 47.93%. 84.98% required hospice care service, with 31.87% in great need of the service. The demand for psychological and spiritual services was 84.20% and 44.56% of them reported high demand for it. From multiple regression analysis, the factors influencing the demand of the elderly for medical treatment and health care services were identified as the sources of income, harmonious relationship with their children, medical expenses guarantee, and psychological and spiritual services, with statistical significance (P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic disease medication consultation service, dietary guidance, and medical expenses guarantee are listed as the top three demands among the elderly living in the community from medical treatment and health care services. This warrants an urgent need to establish a multi-level, personalized, and diversified medical treatment and health care model, with improved long-term care insurance system, and trained medical professionals to provide professional services in order to improve the quality of life and health level of the elderly.
PMID:38064627
