Regional disparities in health literacy for chronic diseases: focusing on healthcare resources and local extinction index.

Autor:	Ji S; Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Kwon YG; Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; Center for Medical Education, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Lee H; Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Shin C; Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Sohn M; Division of Health and Medical Sciences, The Cyber University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Choi M; Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Frontiers in public health [Front Public Health] 2024 Sep 12; Vol. 12, pp. 1423645. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 12 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.3389/fpubh.2024.1423645
Abstrakt:	Objective: This study compared disparities between community health characteristics and health literacy levels for hypertension and diabetes by combining community-level characteristics, such as the local extinction index and healthcare resources, with individual-level characteristics based on the Andersen healthcare utilization model. Method: Data obtained from the 2017, 2019, and 2021 Community Health Surveys, Korean Statistical Information Service, and National Health Insurance Service were analyzed. The analyses included spatial analysis, propensity score matching, and cross-analysis. Results: Twenty-five extinction-risk regions (ERRs) were identified in 2017, 26 in 2019, and 29 in 2021, indicating a high risk of extinction and insufficient healthcare resources in non-metropolitan regions. Based on analyses of demographic changes and unmet medical needs at the individual level, we observed increased age and economic activity, decreased healthcare access, and lower education levels in ERRs compared to non-extinction-risk regions (NERRs). No significant differences were found between the regions regarding diagnosis or medication use concerning the health literacy gap for hypertension and diabetes. However, individuals in ERRs were significantly less likely than those in NERRs to be aware of such diseases or educated about their management. Discussion: Given that healthcare services in ERRs focus on chronic disease management rather than prevention, we propose two directions to reduce health disparities in ERRs. First, the government should encourage cooperation with private healthcare organizations to ensure the provision of health education programs in vulnerable areas. Second, improvements in awareness and education regarding chronic disease management can be achieved through digital healthcare and telemedicine. This study identifies regional disparities in chronic disease prevention and management, providing a basis for policies to ensure healthier communities with health equity. Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2024 Ji, Kwon, Lee, Shin, Sohn and Choi.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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