Use of preventive care by the working poor in the United States.

TitleUse of preventive care by the working poor in the United States.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsRoss, JS, Bernheim, SM, Bradley, EH, Teng, H-M, Gallo, WT
JournalPrev Med
Volume44
Issue3
Pagination254-9
Date Published2007 Mar
ISSN Number0091-7435
Call Numbernewpubs20070403_Ross_etal
KeywordsCost of Illness, Cross-Sectional Studies, Employment, Female, Health Promotion, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Poverty, Preventive Health Services, Risk Assessment, Socioeconomic factors, United States, Vulnerable Populations
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between poverty and preventive care use among older working adults.

METHOD: Cross-sectional analysis of the pooled 1996, 1998 and 2000 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of older community-dwelling adults, studying self-reported use of cervical, breast, and prostate cancer screening, as well as serum cholesterol screening and influenza vaccination. Adults with incomes within 200% of the federal poverty level were defined as poor.

RESULTS: Among 10,088 older working adults, overall preventive care use ranged from 38% (influenza vaccination) to 76% (breast cancer screening). In unadjusted analyses, the working poor were significantly less likely to receive preventive care. After adjustment for insurance coverage, education, and other socio-demographic characteristics, the working poor remained significantly less likely to receive breast cancer (RR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.86-0.96), prostate cancer (RR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.81-0.97), and cholesterol screening (RR 0.91, 95% CI, 0.86-0.96) than the working non-poor, but were not significantly less likely to receive cervical cancer screening (RR 0.96, 95% CI, 0.90-1.01) or influenza vaccination (RR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.84-1.01).

CONCLUSION: The older working poor are at modestly increased risk for not receiving preventive care.

DOI10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.11.006
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17196642?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Poverty/Health Care Utilization/screening

Endnote ID

17240

Alternate JournalPrev Med
Citation Key7129
PubMed ID17196642
PubMed Central IDPMC1810564
Grant ListK01 AG021983 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG021342 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG21342 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG1934 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States