Examining the effects of a usual source of care on disparities among employed U.s. adults who miss work due to illness
Open Access
- Author:
- Lukas, Tiana L
- Area of Honors:
- Health Policy and Administration
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Patricia Y Miranda-Hartsuff, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Rhonda Be Lue, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- usual source of care
health disparities - Abstract:
- The role of a usual source of care (USC) in the understanding of health disparities is important because approximately 18.5% of U.S. adults from 2006-2007 did not rely on a USC, which is more than a 2% increase within five years. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between a USC and the outcome of interest, missed workdays. Employed U.S. adults age 18-85 from the 2008 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey were examined. The outcome variable is specified as the number of missed workdays due to illness. The main effect was a USC, defined as whether someone has a healthcare facility to visit for health issues. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used to account for the large number of zero responses for missed workdays. Approximately 73% of the 9,101 respondents had a USC. The average number of missed workdays among those with a USC was 4.6 days compared to 3.9 days for the overall sample. Those with a USC have 60% lower odds of never missing work (P < 0.01) and 1.41 times the expected number of missed workdays (P < 0.01) compared to those without a USC. Those with a USC have lower odds of being someone who never misses work, as well as an increased expected number of missed workdays, compared to those without a USC. A USC is a main component of a medical home model, and focusing efforts on a USC for those who can benefit most from health reform or need preventive services can build on the successes of a medical home. As health reform provisions increase access to care and preventive services, the increased expected number of missed workdays shown in the findings could balance in the future with effective prevention efforts to reduce illness.