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KMID : 1146320210090010041
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Journal of Health Technology Assessment
2021 Volume.9 No. 1 p.41 ~ p.48
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Patterns and Factors Associated with the Utilization of Oriental and Western Medical Care in Musculoskeletal Disease Outpatients
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Park Ji-Eun
Kim Yoo-Jin
Suh Hae-Sun
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Abstract
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Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find out the factors associated with the probability of using the Western medicine only (WMO), Oriental medicine only (OMO), and both in patients with musculoskeletal disorder in ambulatory care settings.
Methods: We used the Korea Health panel data in 2009 to analyze the expenditure of using WMO, OMO, and both. Factors associated with using WMO, OMO, and both were examined by applying multinomial logit model.
Results: We identified 3,163 patients aged above 20 years with musculoskeletal disease who used the western medicine or oriental medicine. About 70% of patients used WMO. The number of visits per year was the highest in the patients who used both services followed by patients using WMO and OMO. The total medical expenditure for outpatient visits was the highest in patients using both services. However, there were no significant differences in costs per outpatient visit among three groups. Distance to clinics was the common factor that affected three groups of using services. The longer distance, the lower probability of using OMO [odds ratio (OR)=0.987; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.979?0.995] and using both (OR=0.989; 95% CI=0.983?0.996) compared with using WMO. Probabilities of using OMO versus WMO was significantly higher in persons with better perceived health status, with younger age (20’s?30’s) versus older age (over 60’s), and who live alone. Persons with higher education were more likely to use both services compared with using WMO.
Conclusion: The factor affected using OMO, WMO, and both services was distance to clinic. The longer distance, the fewer visits to oriental medical clinic. Better perceived health, younger age, living alone, and higher education were associated with more visits to oriental medicine hospital than western medicine hospital. This finding enhances our understanding of the characteristics of oriental medical care users, which might contribute to the health care policy making. This finding suggests that accessibility issue might be considered to facilitate the use of oriental medical care. However, outcomes studies comparing these services should be preceded.
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KEYWORD
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Musculoskeletal diseases, Medicine, East Asian traditional, Western medicine, Primary health care
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