Moran, Valerie, Suhrcke, Marc orcid.org/0000-0001-7263-8626, Ruiz-Castell, Maria et al. (2 more authors) (2021) Investigating unmet need for healthcare using the European Health Interview Survey:a cross-sectional survey study of Luxembourg. BMJ Open. e048860. ISSN 2044-6055
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We investigate the prevalence of unmet need arising from wait times, distance/transportation and financial affordability using the European Health Interview Survey. We explore associations between individual characteristics and the probability of reporting unmet need. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey conducted between February and December 2014. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 4004 members of the resident population in private households registered with the health insurance fund in Luxembourg aged 15 years and over. OUTCOME MEASURES: Six binary variables that measured unmet need arising from wait time, distance/transportation and affordability of medical, dental and mental healthcare and prescribed medicines among those who reported a need for care. RESULTS: The most common barrier to access arose from wait times (32%) and the least common from distance/transportation (4%). Dental care (12%) was most often reported as unaffordable, followed by prescribed medicines (6%), medical (5%) and mental health (5%) care. Respondents who reported bad/very bad health were associated with a higher risk of unmet need compared with those with good/very good health (wait: OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.80, distance/transportation: OR 7.12, 95% CI 2.91 to 17.44, afford medical care: OR 5.35, 95% CI 2.39 to 11.95, afford dental care: OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.86 to 5.71, afford prescribed medicines: OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.71, afford mental healthcare: OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.25 to 10.30). Income between the fourth and fifth quintiles was associated with a lower risk of unmet need for dental care (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.53), prescribed medicines (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.82) and mental healthcare (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.61) compared with income between the first and second quintiles. CONCLUSIONS: Recent and planned reforms to address waiting times and financial barriers to accessing healthcare may help to address unmet need. In addition, policy-makers should consider additional policies targeted at high-risk groups with poor health and low incomes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. |
Keywords: | Cross-Sectional Studies,Health Services Accessibility,Health Services Needs and Demand,Humans,Insurance, Health,Luxembourg/epidemiology,Surveys and Questionnaires |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Economics and Related Studies (York) The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Centre for Health Economics (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 11 Aug 2021 12:10 |
Last Modified: | 27 Dec 2024 00:19 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048860 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048860 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:177011 |
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Description: Investigating unmet need for healthcare using the European Health Interview Survey: a cross-sectional survey study of Luxembourg
Licence: CC-BY 2.5