Abstract

 Utilization is one of the dimensions of equity in health systems. Identifying the factors affecting utilization of health services can be helpful for interventional purposes. This study systematically reviewed the factors affecting the utilization of inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical services. This systematic review was conducted between 2016 and 2017. The search was performed using keywords based on MeSH in valid databases such as Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science in the fields of title, abstract, and keyword. Related papers published from 2000 to 2017 were searched. First, the retrieved studies were screened and checked for quality; then, the useful data were extracted and analyzed. Out of the 1178 retrieved publications, 20 studies were included in the final analysis. The identified factors were categorized into 5 areas, including demographic (4 items), socioeconomic (13 items), health services–related (13 items), health status–related (7 items), and health insurance–related factors (2 items), and reported. The findings of this study can be a useful source and a comprehensive body of evidence on the utilization of health services. The results can be used by the policy makers and managers in designing interventions for changing the utilization patterns of health services. [GMJ.2019;8:e1236]
Highlights
Health is a matter of importance in today’s modern societies in such a way that we might conclude that improvements of health indicators lead to human and social development and elevate the development GMJUtilization of Affective Factors of Health Services: A Systematic Review individually or by affecting others, seriously influence the health of people
The health services were arranged in 4 groups of inpatient services, outpatient services, diagnostic procedures, and pharmaceutical services
This study reviewed the effective factors on the utilization of health services worldwide in the following 4 categories: pharmaceutical services, diagnostic procedures, inpatient services, and outpatient services
Summary
Health is a matter of importance in today’s modern societies in such a way that we might conclude that improvements of health indicators lead to human and social development and elevate the development GMJUtilization of Affective Factors of Health Services: A Systematic Review individually or by affecting others, seriously influence the health of people. Evidence shows that socioeconomic differences, by influencing the utilization rate of health services, lead to inequality in access to health care and an increase in the burden of diseases. Poor socioeconomic conditions and lifestyle factors increase the burden of diseases, and resultantly, the need for health services [911]. The model proposed by Andersen (2005) describes the health care utilization as a model of behavior It considers the utilization of health services as a dependent factor of ability to use, barriers to use, and the need for the services. Some people tend to use more health services than others, which can be predicted by some characteristics Individuals with such characteristics of demographic factors, social factors, incentives, and beliefs are more likely to use the health services. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the effective factors on the utilization of inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical health services
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