Analytical Studies on Medical Utilization Behaviors in Rural Areas

농촌지역주민의 의료이용행위에 영향 주는 자극요인분석

This study was conducted for the purpose of fin-ding out the variance explaining the medical facilities utilization behavior, which is defined adaptation behavior Process by focal, contextual, residual stimuli in Roy's Adaptation Model. What kinds of characteristics can explain adaptation behavior in Roy's Model? And which is the relative importance of input variables? For this analysis, stepwise multiple regression and path analysis was used. The data come from the 1981 Baseline Household Interview Survey in remote rural area. The findings of the analysis can be summarized as follows: First, Total variance of independant variables for adaptation behavior, that is medical facilities utilization including clinic, drug store, health center, herb medicine was shown 16.2 percent. The most important variable which explain the dependent variable was the occurance of illness with the Ra of value 0.112. The illness symptom, living level, regular care source was shown important variables with relatively high the R²value and significant beta coefficient. Second, in the path analysis of variables which is selected important variables, the occurance of illness was shown variable which has the highest direct effect which 0.297 path coefficient. Also the education level of household was shown variable which has the highest indirect effect through living level and the occurance of illness in causal model. Third, This analysis suggests that the occurance of illness belonging focal stimuli are more influenced than others. To sum up, It is seem to the occurance of illness, illness symptom belonging focal stimuli have high explanation ability through direct effect, education level of household among contextual stimuli have explanation ability through indirect effect.