Dermatological outpatient services utilization among the elderly in Taiwan: A national profile

The purpose of the study was to analyze the characteristics of outpatient services utilization of skin diseases among geriatric population in Taiwan. Data from a population-based random sample consisted of 140,738 elderly patients from a national survey was used for analysis. Information regarding individual characteristics was collected by personal interview. Information regarding utilization of outpatient services due to skin diseases by the sample was collected from the claim records of National Health Insurance from July 2001 to June 2002. χ² tests, t-tests, or ANOVA were used for bivariate analysis, and multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis. Results showed that the utilization rate of outpatient services due to skin diseases for the elderly was 32.57%. Older age (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.23), male gender (1.11, 1.09-1.14), and institutionalization (2.10, 1.88-2.34) were significant risk factors for dermatology outpatient service utilization. Severe disability (0.86, 0.82-0.91) was negatively associated with services use. Infection and eczema were the two most common diagnostic categories, and were associated with male gender and institutionalization. Patients with 3 or more ADL disabilities were associated with the highest risk for skin ulcer (7.45, 6.22 - 8.92). Findings of this study may cast implications on health policy for dermatologic care of the growing aging population.