Factors associated with the frequency of medical consultations by older adults: a national study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with the high frequency of medical consultations (five or more consultations) among older adult participants of the National Health Survey - 2013. METHOD: A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted with data from individuals aged 60 years and over (n = 19,503). The outcome variable came from the question: 'How many times have you consulted the doctor in the last 12 months? Fifty-seven (57) independent variables were listed. The Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis software program was used in the analysis. The data set was balanced and the dimensionality reduction test was performed. The variables which were strongly related to the dependent variable were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The independent variables listed were strongly related to the outcome variables: female gender, negative self-perception of health condition, inability to perform usual activities for health reasons, diagnosis of chronic disease, seeking health services for health-related care, and hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The results reflect the relevance of expanding and qualifying services through effective prevention, protection and health promotion actions.

Factors associated with the frequency of medical consultations by older adults: a national study / Factores asociados con la asistencia a consultas médicas por personas mayores: estudio de base nacional / Fatores associados à frequência de consultas médicas por idosos: estudo de base nacional

Abstract Objective: To analyze factors associated with the high frequency of medical consultations (five or more consultations) among older adult participants of the National Health Survey - 2013. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted with data from individuals aged 60 years and over (n = 19,503). The outcome variable came from the question: 'How many times have you consulted the doctor in the last 12 months? Fifty-seven (57) independent variables were listed. The Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis software program was used in the analysis. The data set was balanced and the dimensionality reduction test was performed. The variables which were strongly related to the dependent variable were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The independent variables listed were strongly related to the outcome variables: female gender, negative self-perception of health condition, inability to perform usual activities for health reasons, diagnosis of chronic disease, seeking health services for health-related care, and hospitalization. Conclusion: The results reflect the relevance of expanding and qualifying services through effective prevention, protection and health promotion actions.

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar los factores asociados con la elevada asistencia a consultas médicas (cinco o más consultas) entre personas mayores participantes en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud - 2013. Método: Estudio transversal, cuantitativo, llevado a cabo con los datos de los individuos de 60 o más años (n=19.503). La variable resultado sobrevino de la pregunta: '¿Cuántas veces consultó usted con el médico los últimos 12 meses? Fueron enlistadas 57 variables independientes. Se utilizó el software Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis. Se llevó a cabo el balance del conjunto de datos, la prueba de reducción de dimensionalidad, las variables que se presentaron fuertemente relacionadas con la variable dependiente fueron analizadas mediante la regresión logística. Resultados: De las variables independientes enlistadas presentaron fuerte relación con la variable desenlace: sexo femenino, autopercepción negativa de la condición de salud, imposibilidad de realizar actividades habituales por motivo de salud, diagnóstico de enfermedad crónica, búsqueda por servicio sanitario para atención relacionada con la propia salud, estancia hospitalaria. Conclusión: Los resultados reflejan la relevancia de ampliación y calificación de los servicios, mediante acciones efectivas de prevención, protección y promoción de la salud.

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados à elevada frequência de consultas médicas (cinco ou mais consultas) entre idosos participantes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - 2013. Método: Estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado com os dados dos indivíduos com 60 ou mais anos (n=19.503). A variável desfecho sobreveio da pergunta: 'Quantas vezes consultou o médico nos últimos 12 meses? Foram elencadas 57 variáveis independentes. Utilizou-se o software Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis. Foi realizado o balanceamento do conjunto de dados, teste de redução de dimensionalidade, as variáveis que apresentaram-se fortemente relacionadas com a variável dependente foram analisadas por meio da regressão logística. Resultados: Das variáveis independentes elencadas apresentaram forte relação com a variável desfecho: sexo feminino, autopercepção negativa da condição de saúde, impossibilidade de realizar atividades habituais por motivo de saúde, diagnóstico de doença crônica, procura por serviço de saúde para atendimento relacionado à própria saúde, internação hospitalar. Conclusão: Os resultados refletem a relevância de ampliação e qualificação dos serviços, através de ações efetivas de prevenção, proteção e promoção da saúde.