Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review
Abstract Background Middle-aged adults, defined as individuals between the ages of 45 and 64, represent a significant yet under researched group of healthcare service users. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the patterns of healthcare utilisation and the factors contri...
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-024-00715-z |
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| author | Yong Ng Abigail Jia Ai Low Clement Chan Yu Liang Lim Chien Earn Lee Hiang Khoon Tan Qin Xiang Ng |
| author_facet | Yong Ng Abigail Jia Ai Low Clement Chan Yu Liang Lim Chien Earn Lee Hiang Khoon Tan Qin Xiang Ng |
| author_sort | Yong Ng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Middle-aged adults, defined as individuals between the ages of 45 and 64, represent a significant yet under researched group of healthcare service users. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the patterns of healthcare utilisation and the factors contributing to them within this demographic. Methods Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases from their inception until July 2023. Key search terms such as “healthcare utilisation” and “middle-aged” were used to identify relevant studies. Articles were included if they were original cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies published in English. The findings were then synthesised narratively, by identifying recurring concepts and grouping them into broader themes. The themes were categorised according to the Andersen healthcare utilisation model’s three factors: predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need-related factors. Results After screening 4,810 records, a total of 25 articles were selected for final analysis, comprising 15 from developed countries and 10 from developing countries. Consistent factors influencing healthcare utilisation included multimorbidity, socioeconomic status, and poor health behaviours. Differences emerged across contexts: in developed countries, healthcare utilisation was influenced by lifestyle behaviours and access to private care, while in developing countries, socioeconomic inequalities and limited insurance coverage played more dominant roles. Healthcare system structures likely shaped utilisation patterns. Conclusion Healthcare utilisation among middle-aged adults is driven by an interplay of medical, social, and economic factors that vary across contexts. Common contributors, such as multimorbidity and poor health behaviours, highlight the need for targeted interventions and policies focusing on primary and preventive care to address the long-term burden of healthcare utilisation. This demographic faces unique challenges in managing healthcare decisions amidst varying systemic and individual-level challenges, which should be further studied. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19da9c765a05423c8e0639452098a138 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-19da9c765a05423c8e0639452098a1382024-12-22T12:33:39ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152024-12-0143111210.1186/s41043-024-00715-zHealthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping reviewYong Ng0Abigail Jia Ai Low1Clement Chan2Yu Liang Lim3Chien Earn Lee4Hiang Khoon Tan5Qin Xiang Ng6NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeNUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSchool of Medicine, University of Western AustraliaDepartment of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng HospitalSingHealth Office of Regional HealthSingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Medical SchoolSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health SystemAbstract Background Middle-aged adults, defined as individuals between the ages of 45 and 64, represent a significant yet under researched group of healthcare service users. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the patterns of healthcare utilisation and the factors contributing to them within this demographic. Methods Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases from their inception until July 2023. Key search terms such as “healthcare utilisation” and “middle-aged” were used to identify relevant studies. Articles were included if they were original cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies published in English. The findings were then synthesised narratively, by identifying recurring concepts and grouping them into broader themes. The themes were categorised according to the Andersen healthcare utilisation model’s three factors: predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need-related factors. Results After screening 4,810 records, a total of 25 articles were selected for final analysis, comprising 15 from developed countries and 10 from developing countries. Consistent factors influencing healthcare utilisation included multimorbidity, socioeconomic status, and poor health behaviours. Differences emerged across contexts: in developed countries, healthcare utilisation was influenced by lifestyle behaviours and access to private care, while in developing countries, socioeconomic inequalities and limited insurance coverage played more dominant roles. Healthcare system structures likely shaped utilisation patterns. Conclusion Healthcare utilisation among middle-aged adults is driven by an interplay of medical, social, and economic factors that vary across contexts. Common contributors, such as multimorbidity and poor health behaviours, highlight the need for targeted interventions and policies focusing on primary and preventive care to address the long-term burden of healthcare utilisation. This demographic faces unique challenges in managing healthcare decisions amidst varying systemic and individual-level challenges, which should be further studied.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-024-00715-zMiddle-agedHealthcare utilisationContributory factorsScoping review |
| spellingShingle | Yong Ng Abigail Jia Ai Low Clement Chan Yu Liang Lim Chien Earn Lee Hiang Khoon Tan Qin Xiang Ng Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Middle-aged Healthcare utilisation Contributory factors Scoping review |
| title | Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review |
| title_full | Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review |
| title_short | Healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle-aged adults: a scoping review |
| title_sort | healthcare utilisation patterns and contributory factors among middle aged adults a scoping review |
| topic | Middle-aged Healthcare utilisation Contributory factors Scoping review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-024-00715-z |
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