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Article: A geographical study of health services utilization among elderly in Hong Kong: from spatial variations to health care implications

TitleA geographical study of health services utilization among elderly in Hong Kong: from spatial variations to health care implications
Authors
KeywordsGeographic variations
Healthcare delivery
Services utilization
Elderly
Issue Date2009
PublisherLibertas Academica Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.la-press.com/health-services-insights-journal-j117
Citation
Health Services Insights, 2009, v. 2, p. 1-13 How to Cite?
AbstractIntroduction: Levels of utilization of health services vary socially and geographically. Differences in the rates of usage are also associated with geographical aspects of health care systems. The purpose of this study was to capture spatial variations in hospital health services utilization in the elderly population in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. Materials and Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of a database from the Hospital Authority (HA) which covers 98% (N = 243,245) of the total registered deaths in Hong Kong during 1999 to 2005. Deaths at age 65y and above (N = 184,671) were included in the analysis. Age-sex weighted mean utilization ratio of hospital services was calculated by dividing the age-sex weighted mean usage of a particular service for each district by that for the whole territory. The variation in utilization by the seniors was analyzed in terms of four types of services: length of stay (LOS) in HA hospitals, number of inpatient admissions, number of visits to specialist outpatient department (SOPD), and attendances at accident and emergency department (AED). Results: Deaths at age 65y and above contributed to 76% of the total registered deaths. Each district contributed 1.0% to 9.1% of the total number of deaths in Hong Kong. Spatial analysis of the age-sex weighted mean utilization ratio showed significant geographic variation in the use of hospital services: the range of difference in the LOS between the lowest and highest district was 44%, while some differences as high as 33%, 35% and 39% in utilization ratios were observed in relation to number of inpatient admissions, visits to SOPD, and attendances at AED respectively. However, the patterns of these variations were not consistent for the four types of service being analyzed. Conclusions: Geographic variation in the utilization of hospital health services across the 18 districts in Hong Kong among the elderly population during the last three years before death was demonstrated. However, the patterns of variation were different for the types of services being examined. Further studies using primary data at an individual level are needed to explain the variations. Detailed analysis examining the relationship between service provision, accessibility and health outcomes are also indicated in order to inform the planning of health service delivery.
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/89598
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 2.4
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.922

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorWong, Men_HK
dc.contributor.authorChau, PHen_HK
dc.contributor.authorGoggins, Wen_HK
dc.contributor.authorWoo, Jen_HK
dc.date.accessioned2010-09-06T09:59:08Z-
dc.date.available2010-09-06T09:59:08Z-
dc.date.issued2009en_HK
dc.identifier.citationHealth Services Insights, 2009, v. 2, p. 1-13en_HK
dc.identifier.issn1178-6329-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/89598-
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Levels of utilization of health services vary socially and geographically. Differences in the rates of usage are also associated with geographical aspects of health care systems. The purpose of this study was to capture spatial variations in hospital health services utilization in the elderly population in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. Materials and Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of a database from the Hospital Authority (HA) which covers 98% (N = 243,245) of the total registered deaths in Hong Kong during 1999 to 2005. Deaths at age 65y and above (N = 184,671) were included in the analysis. Age-sex weighted mean utilization ratio of hospital services was calculated by dividing the age-sex weighted mean usage of a particular service for each district by that for the whole territory. The variation in utilization by the seniors was analyzed in terms of four types of services: length of stay (LOS) in HA hospitals, number of inpatient admissions, number of visits to specialist outpatient department (SOPD), and attendances at accident and emergency department (AED). Results: Deaths at age 65y and above contributed to 76% of the total registered deaths. Each district contributed 1.0% to 9.1% of the total number of deaths in Hong Kong. Spatial analysis of the age-sex weighted mean utilization ratio showed significant geographic variation in the use of hospital services: the range of difference in the LOS between the lowest and highest district was 44%, while some differences as high as 33%, 35% and 39% in utilization ratios were observed in relation to number of inpatient admissions, visits to SOPD, and attendances at AED respectively. However, the patterns of these variations were not consistent for the four types of service being analyzed. Conclusions: Geographic variation in the utilization of hospital health services across the 18 districts in Hong Kong among the elderly population during the last three years before death was demonstrated. However, the patterns of variation were different for the types of services being examined. Further studies using primary data at an individual level are needed to explain the variations. Detailed analysis examining the relationship between service provision, accessibility and health outcomes are also indicated in order to inform the planning of health service delivery.-
dc.languageengen_HK
dc.publisherLibertas Academica Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.la-press.com/health-services-insights-journal-j117-
dc.relation.ispartofHealth Services Insightsen_HK
dc.rightsHealth Services Insights. Copyright © Libertas Academica Ltd.-
dc.subjectGeographic variations-
dc.subjectHealthcare delivery-
dc.subjectServices utilization-
dc.subjectElderly-
dc.titleA geographical study of health services utilization among elderly in Hong Kong: from spatial variations to health care implicationsen_HK
dc.typeArticleen_HK
dc.identifier.openurlhttp://library.hku.hk:4550/resserv?sid=HKU:IR&issn=1178-6329&volume=2&spage=1&epage=13&date=2009&atitle=A+geographical+study+of+health+services+utilization+among+elderly+in+Hong+Kong:+from+spatial+variations+to+health+care+implications-
dc.identifier.emailChau, PH: phpchau@hkucc.hku.hken_HK
dc.identifier.emailWoo, J: jeanwoo@HKUCC-COM.hku.hken_HK
dc.identifier.authorityChau, PH=rp00574en_HK
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version-
dc.identifier.hkuros166113en_HK
dc.identifier.volume2-
dc.identifier.spage1-
dc.identifier.epage13-
dc.identifier.issnl1178-6329-

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