Social capital can be defined as a resource found in the relationships between individuals and within the community that facilitates access to resources. Social capital may have an effect on health services utilization. Few studies have explored the impact of social capital on the propensity and frequency of general practitioner visits for immigrants. The relationship between social capital and health services use by immigrants was analyzed using a dataset consisting of socio-demographic data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey linked to physician claims from the Ontario Health Insurance Program for fiscal year 2006. The results suggested that the community belonging aspect of individual social capital was associated with a decrease in the number of GP visits for immigrants. Thus, community services may substitute for formal health care for immigrants.

This study examined the potential impact on processes of care and patient outcomes upon exposure of supportive and concurrent care provided by primary care providers (PCPs) to their hospitalized patients. A secondary objective was to describe the PCPs who conduct these services, and the patients who receive them. There was a marked, observable trend that PCP visits to their hospitalized patients is on the decline (dropped 10% between 2003 and 2009). The patients who received in-hospital visits from their PCPs had more disease burden and were hospitalized longer than the control group. Patients who received and in-hospital visit from their PCP were more likely to receive home care services and PCP visits post-discharge [adjusted OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.12-1.28)]. They were also less likely to experience the composite outcome of death, hospital readmission, or emergency department visit [aOR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.98)].

Social capital can be defined as a resource found in the relationships between individuals and within the community that facilitates access to resources. Social capital may have an effect on health services utilization. Few studies have explored the impact of social capital on the propensity and frequency of general practitioner visits for immigrants. The relationship between social capital and health services use by immigrants was analyzed using a dataset consisting of socio-demographic data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey linked to physician claims from the Ontario Health Insurance Program for fiscal year 2006. The results suggested that the community belonging aspect of individual social capital was associated with a decrease in the number of GP visits for immigrants. Thus, community services may substitute for formal health care for immigrants.

This study examined the potential impact on processes of care and patient outcomes upon exposure of supportive and concurrent care provided by primary care providers (PCPs) to their hospitalized patients. A secondary objective was to describe the PCPs who conduct these services, and the patients who receive them. There was a marked, observable trend that PCP visits to their hospitalized patients is on the decline (dropped 10% between 2003 and 2009). The patients who received in-hospital visits from their PCPs had more disease burden and were hospitalized longer than the control group. Patients who received and in-hospital visit from their PCP were more likely to receive home care services and PCP visits post-discharge [adjusted OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.12-1.28)]. They were also less likely to experience the composite outcome of death, hospital readmission, or emergency department visit [aOR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.98)].

Adolescence is a very important transition stage between childhood and adulthood. In this stage, due to rapid change physically and mentally, adolescents are more likely to occur physical, psychological, and social problems. Therefore, providing adolescents fine health service is critical. To do so, having a better understanding of the factors associated with health service utilization can help a lot. The main purpose of this study is to understand adolescents¡¦ behavior of health service utilization. Based on Andersen¡¦s behavior model of health service utilization, this study investigated the associations of predisposing characteristics, enabling resource characteristics, and needing characteristics with health service utilization of adolescents. The data used in these analyses were drawn from students in junior high schools of Tainan Providence, of which seven schools were randomly selected and then anonymous questionnaires were distributed to all students. 2,242 of 3,591 students were collected, for a response rate of 55.39%, and the final sample was 1,989. ANOVA and t test were employed to examine health service utilization of adolescents, and multiple regression was used to investigate the factors associated with health service utilization. Several results were found in this study as follows: First, significant differences did exist among junior high students, which indicated that second graders and third graders went to see doctors more times than first graders did. Second, there were 21% and 12% of respondents with experience of hospitalization and operation respectively. Students with hospitalization and operation experience utilized more health services. Third, students with national health insurance were more likely to utilize health services than those without national health insurance. Last, with regard to the relationship between self-perception of health status and health service utilization, the more respondents perceived themselves with problem of physical health or adolescent development, the more health services they utilized. In addition, the perception of emotional problem was negatively related to the utilization of health services. Several suggestions are proposed. First, establish adolescent clinics in all hospitals that are in the level of district hospitals and above to improve medical accessibility. Second, advocate the system of family physician to emphasize continuity and integrity of health care. Moreover, design appropriate clinical education for adolescents to educate them with adequate concept of health care and health utilization, making them understand the idea of health gradient to receive the right treatment in the right place. Last but not least, the health and education administration should reinforce adolescents¡¦ ability of emotional management, provide assistance for them to find out their emotional problems, and help them to receive appropriate health treatment through psychological consultation of adolescent clinics as soon as possible.

No description available.

The intent of this study was to examine the perceived resources and obstacles which were related to the utilization of mental health services by chronically mentally ill Mexican American clients. Specifically, the study identified resources and obstacles encountered by six chronically mentally ill clients and six family members as they accessed various mental health services. The study was conducted in the fall of 1985 from clients currently receiving services from La Frontera Center, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. Data were interpreted through content analysis to conceptualize and categorize client and family member responses. Chronically mentally ill clients relied heavily on individuals such as friends, therapist and priest as resources for mental health service support. In contrast, family members focused primarily on institutions for resource support. Financial resources, institutional policies, denial, and the lack of personal direction were listed as obstacles to seeking mental health services by clients and family members. Study results suggested that the perceptions of traditional and nontraditional obstacles and resources by Mexican American clients and family members continue to strongly influence utilization of mental health services In particular, the issue of "stigma" and the personal qualities and abilities of the therapist emerged as significant descriptors in client and family member self statements.

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine the relationship between admission disability and length of stay obtained from the records of neurological and orthopedic acute rehabilitation adult inpatients. The research question was, "Is there a relationship between the admission disability and length of stay?" Orem's self-care theory was used as the framework of the study. The sample consisted of 118 records of patients dismissed from a freestanding midwestern rehabilitation hospital during July 1, 1996 to November 30, 1996. Admission disability was measured with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM'''*1) instrument that was available in the patient's record. Length of stay was the number of days in the rehabilitation facility. Motor disability was significantly and negatively correlated with length of stay (r= -0.249, p=.006). Implications for practice were discussed. / School of Nursing

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1975.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1975.