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Title
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Healthcare utilisation among the Belgian elderly in relation to their socio-economic status
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objectives To analyse the association between healthcare utilisation of elderly persons (65 and over) in Belgium in terms of contacts with GP or specialist and the socio-economic indicators household income, highest educational level within the household, and housing tenure. Methods A cross-sectional study based on 4494 non-institutionalised elderly participants in the Belgian Health Interview Surveys of 2001 and 2004. Socio-economic gradients in contacts (yes or no) with a GP or specialist were explored, based on the socio-behavioural model of Andersen, a conceptual framework that includes the most important determinants of healthcare utilisation. Three multivariate models were constructed using multiple logistic regression. Results After adjustment for age, sex, health status (self-assessed health, functional restrictions, and comorbidity), region, and living situation, initial differences in contacts with a GP and specialist between the different socio-economic groups disappeared among the elderly. On the other hand, contacts with a specialist remain dependent on SES in the younger population. Conclusions Adjustment for the determinants of healthcare utilisation among the Belgian elderly nullified the socio-economic gradients in contacts with a GP and specialist that initially existed. The results point to a potential link with the Belgian social and health policy. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Health policy. - Amsterdam
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Publication
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Amsterdam
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2011
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ISSN
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0168-8510
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DOI
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10.1016/J.HEALTHPOL.2010.08.010
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Volume/pages
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99
:2
(2011)
, p. 174-182
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ISI
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000287263900011
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
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