Factors Influencing Access to Health Services among Chronically Ill Older Adults with Physical Disabilities in the Era of the COVID-19 Outbreak
1
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16617827
eISSN
16604601
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85145725363
Pubmed ID
36612720
Journal Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
20
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.20 No.1 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Nanthamongkolchai S., Tojeen A., Yodmai K., Suksatan W. Factors Influencing Access to Health Services among Chronically Ill Older Adults with Physical Disabilities in the Era of the COVID-19 Outbreak. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.20 No.1 (2023). doi:10.3390/ijerph20010398 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82613
Title
Factors Influencing Access to Health Services among Chronically Ill Older Adults with Physical Disabilities in the Era of the COVID-19 Outbreak
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Chronically ill older adults with physical disabilities frequently face difficulties in their daily lives and require essential health service access, especially in the COVID-19 context. This study aimed to examine the association between social support, perception of benefits due to disability and access to health services among chronically ill older adults with physical disabilities during this crisis in Thailand. A total of 276 chronically ill older adults with physical disabilities were included in this cross-sectional study. Self-reported questionnaires were assessed through multi-stage random sampling. Correlations between the independent variables and health service access were examined using multiple regression analysis. Of the respondents, 159 were female (59.6%). Most participants perceived benefits (58.8%) and access to health services (56.2%) at good levels, while social support was at a moderate level (47.9%). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that social support (β = 0.351), perception of benefits (β = 0.257) and age (β = 0.167) were positively correlated with health service access. The findings are relevant for health care providers and multi-professional teams, who should enhance older adults’ social support and perception of benefits to improve their access to health services, particularly among chronically ill older adults with physical disabilities, in the era of COVID-19.