Title | Use of preventive care by the working poor in the United States. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2007 |
Authors | Ross, JS, Bernheim, SM, Bradley, EH, Teng, H-M, Gallo, WT |
Journal | Prev Med |
Volume | 44 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 254-9 |
Date Published | 2007 Mar |
ISSN Number | 0091-7435 |
Call Number | newpubs20070403_Ross_etal |
Keywords | Cost 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. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.11.006 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | Poverty/Health Care Utilization/screening |
Endnote ID | 17240 |
Alternate Journal | Prev Med |
Citation Key | 7129 |
PubMed ID | 17196642 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC1810564 |
Grant List | K01 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 |