Factors Underlying Unmet Medical Needs: A Cross-Sectional Study

Young Suk Yoon, Boyoung Jung, Dongsu Kim and In-Hyuk Ha
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Young Suk Yoon: Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, 536 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06110, Korea
Boyoung Jung: Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, 3F, 538 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06110, Korea
Dongsu Kim: KM Policy Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672, Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34054, Korea
In-Hyuk Ha: Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, 3F, 538 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06110, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Unmet medical needs refer to the state where a patient’s medical care or service is insufficient, inadequate, or lacking. Numerous factors influence unmet medical needs. We used a multi-pronged approach to explore the factors influencing unmet medical needs in the Korean health care system according to Anderson’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. To this end, we used data from 11,378 adults over 19 years old in the 2016 Korea Health Panel Survey and performed multiple logistic regression analyses. The odds of experiencing unmet medical needs were significantly greater among older participants (odds ratio (OR) = 2.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.78–3.56); low-income participants (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.14–1.75); non-workers (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.06–1.46); those who had received non-covered treatment (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.08–1.42); those who did not regularly exercise (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02–1.48); and those experiencing pain (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.97–2.66), worse self-rated health status (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.89–2.79), and severe depression (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.39–4.35). About one in ten Korean citizens (11.60%) have unmet medical service needs. Policies that strengthen coverage for physically and economically vulnerable groups are needed.

Keywords: unmet medical need; health care system; Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS); Anderson’s Behavioral Model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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