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Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blazer, DG; Landerman, LR; Fillenbaum, G; Horner, R
Published in: Am J Public Health
October 1995

OBJECTIVES: This study compared health service use and satisfaction with health care among older adults living in urban vs rural counties in North Carolina. METHODS: A stratified random sample of 4162 residents of one urban and four rural counties of North Carolina was surveyed to determine urban/rural variation in inpatient and outpatient health service use, continuity of care and satisfaction with care, and barriers (transportation, cost) to care. RESULTS: Inpatient and outpatient service use did not vary by residence in controlled analyses. Continuity of care was more frequent in rural counties. Transportation was not perceived as a barrier to health care more frequently in rural than in urban counties, but cost was a greater barrier to care among rural elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, older persons living in rural counties within reasonable driving distance of urban counties with major medical centers used health services as frequently and were as satisfied with their health care as persons in urban counties. Cost of care, however, was a significant and persistent barrier among rural elderly people, despite Medicare coverage.

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Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

ISSN

0090-0036

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

85

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1384 / 1390

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Urban Health Services
  • Transportation
  • Rural Health Services
  • Public Health
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • North Carolina
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Services Accessibility
 

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Blazer, D. G., Landerman, L. R., Fillenbaum, G., & Horner, R. (1995). Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents. Am J Public Health, 85(10), 1384–1390. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.85.10.1384
Blazer, D. G., L. R. Landerman, G. Fillenbaum, and R. Horner. “Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents.Am J Public Health 85, no. 10 (October 1995): 1384–90. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.85.10.1384.
Blazer DG, Landerman LR, Fillenbaum G, Horner R. Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents. Am J Public Health. 1995 Oct;85(10):1384–90.
Blazer, D. G., et al. “Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents.Am J Public Health, vol. 85, no. 10, Oct. 1995, pp. 1384–90. Pubmed, doi:10.2105/ajph.85.10.1384.
Blazer DG, Landerman LR, Fillenbaum G, Horner R. Health services access and use among older adults in North Carolina: urban vs rural residents. Am J Public Health. 1995 Oct;85(10):1384–1390.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

ISSN

0090-0036

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

85

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1384 / 1390

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Urban Health Services
  • Transportation
  • Rural Health Services
  • Public Health
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • North Carolina
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Services Accessibility