Barriers to Healthcare Access in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Joshua M Thorpe, Carolyn T Thorpe, Korey A Kennelty, Nancy Pandhi
Primary Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hypothesis
What are the perceived barriers to healthcare access among community-dwelling elderly individuals?
Conclusion
The study identified four distinct classes of perceived barriers to healthcare access in older adults, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Supporting Evidence
- 75% of older adults reported no barriers to healthcare access.
- 5% faced availability/accessibility barriers.
- 18% reported accommodation barriers.
- 2% experienced severe barriers across all dimensions.
Takeaway
Older adults often face different types of problems when trying to get medical care, and some have more issues than others.
Methodology
Latent class analysis was used to identify classes of perceived barriers to healthcare access among older adults.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias due to reliance on self-reported measures of healthcare access.
Limitations
The study's sample may not be generalizable to all older adults, and it relied on self-reported data which could introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 64 years, 46% male, and 80% married; 87% had private health insurance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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