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Abstract

Background : This study aimed to analyze the relationship between unmet medical needs (UMN) awareness and health care utilization in Korean adults with social activity restriction (SAR).

Method : The 6~8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used to analyze 41,720 people among groups aged 19 or older by applying individual weights imposed from the raw data. Weighted logistic regression and Weighted zero-inflated Poisson regression analyzed the relationship. Additional analysis was performed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to equalize all variables except UMN.

Results : SAR due to health condition group (1.75 OR) had a higher UMN experience rate than the non-SAR group. The number of admissions (ADM) and outpatient department (OPD) in the SAR group was a higher than the non-SAR group. Analyzing the relationship between UMN and health care utilization according to the type of health problem using PSM showed that in the “Non-SAR” group, the number of ADM and OPD were higher in the UMN group than the met-medical-needs group. In the “SAR due to Physical health (PH)” group, ADM was lower, but OPD was higher than met-medical needs group. In the “SAR due to PMH (Physical and mental health)” group, ADM was higher, but OPD was lower than met-medical needs group.

Conclusion : Current UMN awareness can increase health care utilization and is necessary to strengthen the medical service screening policy to prevent the overuse of health care utilization.

Keywords: Health policy, Medical utilization, PSM, Social activity restriction, Unmet medical needs

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