scholarly journals Association Between a Wider Availability of Health Information and Health Care Utilization in Vietnam: Cross-Sectional Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. e405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Thuy Linh Nguyen ◽  
Keiko Nakamura ◽  
Kaoruko Seino ◽  
Van Thang Vo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Association Between a Wider Availability of Health Information and Health Care Utilization in Vietnam: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Thuy Linh Nguyen ◽  
Keiko Nakamura ◽  
Kaoruko Seino ◽  
Van Thang Vo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Education Courses

BACKGROUND The rapid and widespread development of mass media sources including the Internet is occurring worldwide. Users are being confronted with a flood of health information through a wide availability of sources. Studies on how the availability of health information has triggered users’ interest in utilizing health care services remain limited within the Vietnamese population. OBJECTIVE This study examined the associations between the wider availability of sources for health information and health care utilization in Vietnam after adjusting for potential confounding variables. METHODS The data for this study were drawn from a cross-sectional study conducted over a 6-month period in Hue, a city in central Vietnam. The participants were 993 randomly selected adults aged between 18 and 60 years. Information was collected through face-to-face interviews on the types of information sources that were consulted, including traditional media (television), Internet, and health education courses, as well as the impact of such information on health care use (emergency department visits, hospitalizations, doctor visits). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed at a 95% confidence level. RESULTS The prevalence of watching television, using the Internet, and attending health education courses to obtain health information were 50.9% (505/993), 32.9% (327/993), and 8.7% (86/993), respectively. After further adjustments for self-reported health status, the presence of health insurance, and monthly income, respondents who watched television and used the Internet to obtain health information were 1.7 times more likely to visit a doctor (television: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.69, 95% CI 1.30-2.19; Internet: AOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.23-2.19), and also significantly associated with inpatient hospitalization (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS The use of widely available mass media sources (eg, television and the Internet) to obtain health information was associated with higher health care utilization. How this interest in health-related information can be used so that it will have a beneficial effect on care-seeking behavior should be a topic of concern to further health promotion in developing countries.

scholarly journals Health Care Utilization and Symptom Severity in Ghanaian Children – a Cross-Sectional Study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e80598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Krumkamp ◽  
Nimako Sarpong ◽  
Benno Kreuels ◽  
Lutz Ehlkes ◽  
Wibke Loag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Health care utilization and out of pocket expenditure in a rural area of Kerala: a cross sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 3081
Author(s):  
Sajna Mathumkunnath Vijayan ◽  
Safa Puliyakkadi ◽  
Swathi Chalil
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Out-of-pocket expenditure in health has substantial negative side effects. They may lead to impoverishment. The knowledge of pattern of health care utilization and out of pocket expenditure is imperative for policy making in health care. Objectives of this study were to study utilization pattern of health care services of the population in a rural area of Thrissur district and study of the self-reported chronic morbidity profile and out of pocket expenditure for chronic diseases among the population.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Tholur panchayath area of Thrissur district of Kerala. The calculated sample size was 552 households. House hold was considered as primary sampling units. All family members of the house hold were included in the study. Cluster sampling method was adopted. Data was collected using a pre tested semi-structured questionnaire.Results: A total of 809 individuals from 583 households were found to have chronic diseases. Among them, 54.8% were utilizing private health facility for their treatment. Majority (86%) were following modern medicine system for treatment. Health insurance was availed by 26.6 % of the study participants. Most common reported morbidity was combination of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. The total median out of pocket expenditure for chronic diseases was found to be 5000 Indian Rupees. It was found that 41.6% of the total income of study participants was spent for health care of chronic diseases which indicate catastrophic health expenditure.Conclusions: The burden of chronic disease is high and the private hospitals are approached more by the study population for treatment rather than government hospitals. Health insurance coverage is low, and social assistance availed for treatment is marginal. These factors lead to high out of pocket expenditure amounting to catastrophic health expenditure.

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