Factors Influencing Medical Care Utilization according to Decline of Region:Urban Decline Index and Medical Vulnerability Index as Indicators
10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.2.205
- Author:
Ji Yun JEONG
1
;
Jae Yeon JEONG
;
In Hye YOON
;
Hwa Young CHOI
;
Hae Jong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Health Administration, Yonsei University Graduate School, Wonju, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Health Policy and Management
2022;32(2):205-215
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The purpose of this study is to identify the factors infecting the medical care utilization from a new perspective by newly classifying the categories of administrative districts using the urban decline index and medical vulnerability index as indicators.
Methods:This study targeted 150,940 people who used medical services using the 2015 cohort database (DB), 2010-2015 urban regeneration analysis index DB, and 2014-2015 public health and medical statistics DB. The decline of the region was classified using the urban decline index typed using k-means clustering and the medical vulnerability index typed using the quantile score calculation. Regression analysis was performed 3 times with medical expenditure, length of stay, and the number of outpatient visits as dependent variables.
Results:There were 37 stable region (47.4%), 29 health vulnerable region (37.2%), and 12 decline region (15.4%). The health vulnerable region had lower medical expenditure, fewer outpatient visits, and a higher length of stay than the stable region. The decline region was all higher than the stable region but had no significant effect.
Conclusion:The factors that cause the health disparity between regions are not only factors related to individual health behavior but also environmental factors of the local community. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic alternative that properly considers the resources within the community and reflects the characteristics of the population.
