Background: Mental health issues such as stress and depression have been regarded as major social problems in Korea. We investigated the relationship between stress and depression with unmet medical needs (UMN). Methods: Using the nationwide database of 2010 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (K- NHANES), subjects aged 19 years or above were selected (n=6,055). In the K-NHANES questionnaire, subjects were asked about their UMN experience, severity of stress, and perceived depression lasting at least 2 weeks over the past year. The effects of stress and depression on UMN were analyzed in 4 models established by adding predisposing, enabling and need factors in a step- wise fashion. The risks for UMN were also assessed according to the causes of UMN. Results: Individuals who felt stress ‘very often’ (odds ratio (OR) 3.28, 95% CI=2.23-4.86) and ‘often’ (OR 2.53, 95% CI=1.93-3.31) and who experienced depression (OR 1.68, 95% CI=1.35-2.10) reported significantly elevated UMN rates, and these effects were substantial especially for the individuals who had UMN due to economic constraint. Females, lower education level, lower income, unemployed status, and negative perceptions about health status were found to be additional risk factors for UMN. Conclusion: Our results confirmed the risks of stress and depression on UMN. It is strongly advisable to create initiatives to improve mental health, particularly stress and depression, and to fulfill individuals’ medical utilization needs.
목차
ABSTRACT METHODS Participants and data Definition of variables Analysis RESULTS DISCUSSION CONCLUSION Availability of data and material REFERENCES
키워드
Unmet medical needsstressdepressionmedical utilization
저자
박은희 [ Eun Hee Park | 한국건강증진개발원 ]
박은철 [ Eun-Cheol Park | 연세대학교 보건정책 및 관리 연구소, 연세대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 ]
Daniel H Oh [ 퍼시픽 대학교 약학대학 ]
조은 [ Eun Cho | 숙명여자대학교 약학대학 ]
Corresponding author