ERIC Number: EJ892950
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-7283
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Is There Disparity in Physician Service Use? A Comparison of Hispanic and White Medicare Beneficiaries
Chen, Li-Mei
Health & Social Work, v35 n3 p181-190 2010
This article investigates general physician service use by a national sample of non-Hispanic white and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older. Using the health behavior model as the conceptual framework, Oaxaca decomposition multivariate analyses were conducted to examine predictors for contact with a physician and the number of physician's office visits. Racial and ethnic differences were found in the predictor variables of initial contact with the physician and volume of physician service use. Besides needs factors, poverty level and having Medicaid were also significant predictors. Oaxaca decomposition analysis indicated that Hispanic beneficiaries' being less likely to make the initial physician contact could not be explained only by racial and ethnic differences. Although findings point to the equitable and nondiscriminatory treatment of Hispanic beneficiaries already using physician services, there is variance in the entry point of contact with a general physician for this minority group. Implications for social work are discussed.
Descriptors: Poverty, Physicians, Health Behavior, Predictor Variables, Racial Differences, Minority Groups, Social Work, Whites, Health Insurance, Models, Hispanic Americans, Older Adults, Multivariate Analysis, Comparative Analysis, Medical Services
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). 750 First Street NE Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-227-3590; e-mail: press@naswdc.org; Web site: http://www.naswpress.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A