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Title: Trends in Medical Care Utilization and Barriers to Care among Adults with Serious Mental Illness: 1997-2012
Citation Type: Conference Paper
Publication Year: 2014
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Abstract: Objectives: People with serious mental illness have increased risk for physical illness, suffer worse health outcomes and higher mortality rate. We assessed the national trends in healthcare utilization and barriers to medical care among adults with serious mental illness over the past 16 years. Methods: Using data from the National Health Interview Survey of 1997-2012, we selected samples of adults (n=16513) with serious mental illness (operationalized as K6 score 13). Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to examine the association of survey year with selected measures of medical care utilization (contact with a general doctor, hospitalization, emergency room visits) and barriers to care in the past 12 months. Results: There were no significant linear trends on the prevalence of contact with a general doctor or hospitalization in the past 12 months. However, the prevalence of having 2 or more visits to the emergency department increased from 24.2% in 1997 to 29.2% in 2012 (OR=1.02, p<.001). The prevalence of reported barriers to care also increased, including difficulty in getting an appointment (10.4%-18.4%, OR=1.03, p<.001), having forgone medical care (22.9%-36.7%, AOR=1.03, p<.001) or prescription medicines (26.4%-39.6%, AOR=1.04, p<.001) owing to cost. There were significant disparities in receiving care and reported barriers to care by socio-demographic characteristics, insurance coverage and count of medical conditions. Conclusions: Utilization of ambulatory and inpatient care among adults with serious mental illness remained largely unchanged in recent years, whereas emergency care use has been increased, along with barriers to care.
Url: https://apha.confex.com/apha/142am/webprogram/Paper304933.html
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Authors: Xiang, Xiaoling; Larrison, Christopher R.; Brekke, John; Tabb, Karen
Conference Name: Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference
Publisher Location: New Orleans, LA
Data Collections: IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS
Topics: Health
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