Abstract
BackgroundWhile the elderly are facing greater health risks, they also face more serious inequalities in utilization of medical services. The family doctor contracted service is the core policy of the Chinese government to cope with aging and to achieve the outcome that everyone has the right to primary health care. However, previous research has neither revealed the degree of inequality in the use of contracted services among the elderly in China, nor has it revealed what factors are related to the inequality in the use of services.ObjectiveAssess and decompose the inequality in the use of family doctors contracted services in the elderly population in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 1037 elderly people was conducted in Shandong Province, China. According to the first consultation rate of family doctors, the physical examination rate, the healthy lifestyle guidance rate and the chronic disease management rate, the situation of elderly people’s utilization of family doctor contracted service was investigated. The concentration index is used to measure the degree of inequality in the use of family doctors contracted services by the elderly. In order to test the contribution of different factors to the inequality of utilization of family doctors contracted services, the concentration index was also decomposed.ResultsThe first consultation rate of family doctors for the elderly in Shandong Province was 24.6%, the physical examination rate was 65.8%, the healthy lifestyle guidance rate was 13.7%, and the chronic disease management rate was 52.2%. The horizontal inequality index of the healthy lifestyle guidance rate and the chronic disease management rate were 0.451 and 0.573, respectively, indicating that there is an inequality of pro-wealth. The concentration index of physical examination rate and chronic disease management rate is negative (− 0.260, − 0.518), which means inequality to the poor. Education level is the most important factor affecting the unequal utilization of health services for the elderly, followed by income.ConclusionThe family doctor contracted service has had a positive impact on alleviating the health inequality in the utilization of basic medical and health services for the elderly. Although there is still inequality in terms of pro-wealth for the elderly, the utilization of family doctor contracted service has weakened the inequality of service utilization brought about by income. Enhancing the health literacy of the elderly, narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, bridging the gap between urban and rural areas, and building a harmonious family relationship can promote the realization of basic medical and health care services for every elderly.
Highlights
In line with global trends, China’s population aging process is accelerating [1]
The family doctor contracted service has had a positive impact on alleviating the health inequality in the utilization of basic medical and health services for the elderly
There is still inequality in terms of pro-wealth for the elderly, the utilization of family doctor contracted service has weakened the inequality of service
Summary
In line with global trends, China’s population aging process is accelerating [1]. The elderly is a special group with increasing health vulnerability and disease risk, and face more serious inequality in utilization of medical and health services. The expected goal of the system is to provide more equitable and accessible primary health care services for people, eliminate inequalities in the utilization of basic medical and health services, and achieve the goal of health for all [4]. The family doctor team provides residents with basic medical services, basic public health services and personalized health management services [5]. Does the family doctor contracted service system play its due role in improving the inequality in the utilization of basic medical and health services for the elderly? The family doctor contracted service is the core policy of the Chinese government to cope with aging and to achieve the outcome that everyone has the right to primary health care. Previous research has neither revealed the degree of inequality in the use of contracted services among the elderly in China, nor has it revealed what factors are related to the inequality in the use of services
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