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Abstract

Utilization of health care services and participation in medical research are 2 distinct yet closely related areas. The goal of this study was to investigate the similarities and differences in factors that are associated with health care service utilization and future participation in medical research, and the influence of race and social support.We used data from the Greater Pittsburgh Randomized Household Health Survey, which consisted of a weighted sample of 741 white and 277 black respondents from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.Logistic regression analyses revealed that utilization of health care services was associated with being younger (OR, 0.98; p <. 001), being female (OR, 1.55; p <. 05), high self-rated health (OR poor health, 2.29; OR average health, 2.18; p <. 001; both in comparison to high self-rated health group) and high perceived quality of health care (OR poor quality, 3.63; OR average quality, 1.79; p <. 001; both in comparison to high perceived quality group), while future participation in medical research was associated with greater awareness of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (none OR, 0.07; p <. 01; only a little OR, 0.13; p <. 01), more favorable opinions toward medical research (unfavorable OR; p <. 001; neutral OR, 0.35; p <. 05), and increased research incentives (free medical care OR, 1.27; p <. 05; free transportation OR, 1.29; p <. 05; money OR, 1.25; p <. 05; free medication OR, 1.50; p <. 001).While utilization of health care services and willingness to participate in future research are related, the factors associated with each vary greatly. Implications for health research and policy are discussed.