Predictors of Adolescent Health Care Utilization

• NCJ Number: 220540
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 773-800
• Author(s): Evelyn Vingilis; Terrance Wade; Jane Seeley
• Date Published: October 2007
• Length: 28 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using Andersen’s health care utilization model, this study examined how predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, need, personal health practices, and psychological factors influenced health care utilization among a sample of Canadian adolescents.

Abstract

The results of this study suggest that among Canadian adolescents, predisposing, enabling, need, personal health practices, and psychological factors independently predict health care utilization. These results supports Andersen’s (1995) proposition that each component makes independent contributions to predicting use. In summary, the results clearly show that perceived need, (physical or psychological), is the primary driver of health care utilization among Canadian adolescents. Adolescents who indicated poorer health and health-compromising practices were more likely to use physician and non-physician services. Moreover, the study indicates that income is not a factor in health care utilization when a universal health care plan is provided, but is a factor when universal dental care is not provided. Adolescence is the period during which health-compromising and health-enhancing patterns of behavior are being formed. These behaviors set the stage for future morbidity and health care utilization, as risk-taking behaviors and poor lifestyle choices are major causal factors for many health problems. Andersen initially hypothesized that predisposing, enabling, and need factors would have differential ability to explain different types of health care utilization. In 1995, Anderson conceived of each component as making independent contributions to predicting use, as well as an explanatory model. The purpose of this study was to obviate some prior-mentioned criticisms by examining how a broader range of predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, need, personal health practices, and psychological factors influenced health care utilization using a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of Canadian adolescents. Tables, references