The Effects of Social Networks of the Older Adults with Limited Instrumental Activities of Daily Living on Unmet Medical Needs.

Hye-Young Jang,Song-Yi Han,Young Ko

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010027

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the effects of social networks on unmet medical needs among older adults with limited instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) who live in a community. This study analyzed data from 2281 older adults with limited IADL from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2 tests, t-tests, and logistic regression analysis. About 73.0% of the subjects were female and 15.8% of the subjects had experienced unmet medical needs. The predictors of unmet medical needs according to gender are as follows: annual household income, participation in social activities, and physical support for male subjects and annual household income, number of chronic diseases, living alone in a household, living with others in a household, frequency of contacting close friends, and emotional support for female subjects. The findings of this study will be utilized as a basis for establishing relevant measures to enable older adults to receive proper medical services by heightening the understanding of the gap between medical service use and the medical needs of older adults with limited IADL.

Highlights

Introduction tal Activities of DailyLiving on Un-The term “unmet medical needs” refers to a condition in which medical services perceived by the subject or determined by medical professionals as necessary have been insufficiently provided [1]
This study was conducted to identify the effects of a social network on unmet medical needs among older adults with limited instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) who live in a community
Considering how 12.6% of the subjects in a study that examined the experience of unmet medical needs in older adults living alone [23] and 9.6% of the subjects in a study conducted among older adults with declined cognitive functions [24] had experienced unmet medical needs, it has been confirmed that the older adult population with limited IADL is experiencing higher incidences of unmet medical needs compared to other vulnerable older adult groups

Summary

Introduction

Introduction tal Activities of DailyLiving on Un-The term “unmet medical needs” refers to a condition in which medical services perceived by the subject or determined by medical professionals as necessary have been insufficiently provided [1]. From the perspective that health is a universal right, unmet medical needs hold significance both individually and at the national level. National governments execute various policies and systems to provide opportunities for citizens to receive healthcare services when needed as a measure to guarantee that health is a universal right. Unmet medical needs have been considered a key indicator in evaluating the performance of a healthcare system [2]. After the introduction of a national health insurance in 1989, an array of political implementations have been attempted to improve the accessibility and equity of the healthcare system in South Korea; the proportion of individuals experiencing unmet medical needs is still reported to be 8–17% [3], which indicates the ongoing problem of imbalance in unmet medical needs [4]. Unmet medical needs are reported to be more prominent in socially or economically vulnerable groups [5], and measures to reduce the unmet medical needs of vulnerable populations require more attention

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Discussion

Conclusion