Abstract:
This study aimed to assess and compare the utilization of preventive and other health services and the cost or availability in different regions of Europe, before and during the economic crisis. The data used in the study were obtained from Wave 8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2019/2020) and Wave 1 data (2004/5), with a sample size of 46,106 individuals aged ≥50 across 27 countries, adjusted to represent a population of N = 180,886,962. Composite scores were derived for preventive health services utilization (PHSU), health care services utilization (HCSU), and lack of accessibility/availability in health care services (LAAHCS). Southern countries had lower utilization of preventive services and higher utilization of other health services compared to northern countries, with a significant lack of convergence. Moreover, the utilization of preventive health services decreased, whereas the utilization of secondary care services increased during the austerity period. Southern European countries had a significantly higher prevalence of lack of accessibility. An increase in the frequency of lack of accessibility/availability in health care services was observed from 2004/5 to 2019/20. In conclusion, our findings suggest that health inequalities increase during crisis periods. Therefore, policy interventions could prioritize accessibility and expand health coverage and prevention services.
摘要:
这项研究旨在评估和比较欧洲不同地区的预防和其他卫生服务的利用情况以及成本或可用性。在经济危机之前和期间。研究中使用的数据来自健康调查的第8波,欧洲老龄化和退休(2019/2020)和第一波数据(2004/5),在27个国家/地区的46,106名年龄≥50岁的人中,调整为代表N=180,886,962的人口。得出预防性卫生服务利用(PHSU)的综合评分,医疗保健服务利用(HCSU),以及缺乏卫生保健服务(LAAHCS)的可及性/可用性。与北方国家相比,南方国家对预防服务的利用较低,对其他卫生服务的利用较高,明显缺乏收敛性。此外,预防保健服务的利用率下降,而在紧缩时期,二级保健服务的利用率有所增加。南欧国家缺乏可访问性的患病率明显更高。从2004/5年到2019/20年,保健服务缺乏可及性/可用性的频率有所增加。总之,我们的研究结果表明,在危机时期,健康不平等现象会加剧。因此,政策干预措施可以优先考虑可及性,并扩大健康覆盖和预防服务。