earticle

영어

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the medical care utilization characteristics of general hospital(including tertiary general hospital) outpatients with mild chronic diseases. Methods: We analyzed the data of 3,907 patients over 18 years age with mild chronic diseases from the 2018 Korea Health Panel Survey. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors relevant to the use of the general hospital in the working-aged adults and elderly age groups. Results: In the working-aged adults group, the odds of using a general hospital increased when patients were men, had the highest income level, had more chronic diseases, and always received medical cost support. In the elderly group, the odds of using a general hospital increased when the patients were men, had a college education level or higher, had a disability, had more chronic diseases, and did not exercise. Conclusions: Among outpatients with mild chronic diseases, men with more chronic diseases tended to use the general hospital more, regardless of age.