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Multi-Morbid Health Profiles and Specialty Healthcare Service Use: A Moderating Role of Poverty

Author

Listed:
  • Ilan Kwon

    (School of Social Work at Michigan State University, Baker Hall, 655 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Oejin Shin

    (School of Social Work at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1010 W Nevada St, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Sojung Park

    (Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Goeun Kwon

    (Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA)

Abstract

Increasing life expectancy in the USA makes a better understanding of the heterogeneous healthcare needs of the aging population imperative. Many aging studies have discovered multimorbid health problems focusing mainly on various physical health conditions, but not on combined mental or behavioral health problems. There is also a paucity of studies with older adults who use professional healthcare services caring for their mental and substance-related conditions. This study aims to enhance the knowledge of older peoples’ complex healthcare needs involving physical, mental, and behavioral conditions; examine the relationship between multi-morbid health profiles and specialty healthcare service utilization; and investigate its association to poverty. The study data were derived from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2013 ( n = 6296 respondents aged 50 years and older). To identify overall health conditions, nine indicators, including physical, mental, and substance/alcohol, were included. Healthcare service utilization was measured with four mutually exclusive categories: No treatment, mental health treatment only, substance use treatment only, and both. We identified four health profiles: Healthy (82%), having physical health problems (6%), physical and mental health problems (4%), and behavioral problems (8%). Older people’s health profiles were differentially associated with healthcare use. Those living in poverty with both physical and mental health problems or substance/alcohol health problems were less likely to receive mental health and substance use treatments than those with more financial resources. Implications for geriatric healthcare practices and policy are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilan Kwon & Oejin Shin & Sojung Park & Goeun Kwon, 2019. "Multi-Morbid Health Profiles and Specialty Healthcare Service Use: A Moderating Role of Poverty," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:11:p:1956-:d:236550
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    References listed on IDEAS

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