Socioeconomic Status and the Utilization of CT and MRI in Taiwan: Understand More, Use More?

Abstract

The study is to evaluate computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization patterns among health care related patients and other patients. Methods: The data for 2011 to 2013 were collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) published by the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan. Propensity score matching was used to control the medical professional group and control group based on patients' age and gender. Besides descriptive and bivariate analysis, logistic regression was used to determine the relative factors that influence CT and MRI utilization. Results: Medical professionals have lower CT utilization rate than other patients, but health care related patients used more MRI treatment than normal patients. However, the costs in high technology and overall medical care cost are lower in health related patients group. Patients' characteristics, living environment, family income significantly influenced CT and MRI utilization. Conclusions: The utilization rate of CT and MRI in Taiwan is higher than other countries. We found a pattern of increased CT utilization in patient groups with a lower SES. And health related patients had less CT utilization and more MRI utilization.