Modifiable determinants of healthcare utilization within the African-American population.

摘要: BACKGROUND: Significant health disparities directly affect the African-American population. Most previous studies of in access to and utilization healthcare have focused on black-white differences rather than focusing "within-group" analysis African Americans. OBJECTIVE: To tease out differential effects modifiable risk factors (such as insurance, usual source care, poverty) from personal characteristics (age, gender, rural residence) within METHODS: Secondary data 3462 records respondents 1999 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household File, a nationally representative survey civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population 1999. RESULTS: We found significant variation number office visits, outpatient clinic hospital discharges, days hospitalized, fills prescribed medication among who represent 36,538,639 persons. Personal nonmodifiable such age gender were significantly related utilization. Poverty residence also correlated, but strongest predictors for Afrcan-American persons whether or not individuals had insurance and/or care. Emergency department visits only form care that showed remarkably little based these factors. CONCLUSIONS: The three poverty, uninsurance, having primary medical home dramatic effect patterns patients could be independently targeted intervention.