A resource model of use of physician services

Kathy Krider Trier, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examines use of physician services within the context of family and individual characteristics and resources. Illness, which has been conceptualized as a "need" for services in most models of physician use, is conceptualized in the stress/social support literature as a stressor that is integral to a process explaining behaviors such as physician use. Family and individual resources influence this process both prior to and following the experience of illness. The study develops a resource model of physician use drawing upon relevant concepts and hypotheses from the stress/social support literature and applies it to examine rural/urban differences in physician use by testing interaction effects. Data for the study were collected as part of a 1982 national survey of access to medical care. Use of physician services was defined as having had a physician visit during the past twelve months. The independent variables included individual sociodemographic and family characteristics, illness days, and illness deterrent (i.e., preventive health behavior), illness suppressor (i.e., self perception of health) and distress deterrent resources (i.e., insurance coverage, perception of health care system, regular source of care). Path analysis and tests for significant interaction effects were used to analyze the data. Self perception of health served as an illness suppressor to buffer the effects of illness by encouraging physician use. Having a regular source of care, insurance coverage, and favorable perception of the health care system function as distress deterrent resources in that they were not caused by the occurrence of illness but deterred its effects by encouraging physician use. The illness deterrent hypothesis was not supported. Individuals with distinctive family and personal characteristics have different resources which lead to use of physician services. Family characteristics had indirect effects largely through illness suppressor and distress deterrent resources. Individual characteristics had indirect effects through illness days and resources. Illness days were most dramatically effected by rural/urban interaction effects. Place of residence influenced the number of illness days depending upon family type, work status and the role of main wage earner.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Eichhorn, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Sociology

Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server
.

Share

COinS