Purpose
This study aimed to examine the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs and the factors that influence unmet healthcare needs among older people with cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design with secondary data from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans was used in this study. Data from 1,382 people over the age of 65 years with cognitive impairments were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.
Results
Overall, 9.6% of the participants reported unmet healthcare needs during the previous 12 months. The main reasons for unmet healthcare needs were financial constraints (45.4%), mobility limitation (18.0%), and mildness of symptoms (14.9%). Higher unmet healthcare needs were significantly associated with fewer years of education, no family members providing caregiving or assistance with hospital visits, fewer close relatives, lower income, greater impairment in activities of daily living, and presence of depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors were significantly associated with unmet healthcare needs among elderly individuals with cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is necessary to establish healthcare policies and strategies to improve the accessibility of healthcare services.

Citations

• Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Intended Use of Different Types of Long-Term Care in China and Its Associated Factors Based on the Andersen Behavioral Model
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  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(18): 11626.     CrossRef
• Factors Affecting Unmet Healthcare Needs among Adults with Chronic Diseases
  Ji-Young Han, Hyeon-Sook Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2021; 32(2): 131.     CrossRef
• Association between the severity of new-onset depression and unmet healthcare needs of South Korean adults
  Su Yeon Kim, Wonjeong Jeong, Eun-Cheol Park, Sohee Park, Sung-In Jang, Arista Lahiri
  PLOS ONE.2021; 16(8): e0256222.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Social Networks of the Older Adults with Limited Instrumental Activities of Daily Living on Unmet Medical Needs
  Hye-Young Jang, Young Ko, Song-Yi Han
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 18(1): 27.     CrossRef
• Unmet Healthcare Needs of Children in Vulnerable Families in South Korea: Finding from the Community Child Center Child Panel Survey
  Suyon Baek, Eun-Hi Choi, Jungeun Lee
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(21): 8241.     CrossRef