Predictors for XXXX -related health care utilization: a cross-sectional nationwide study in Iceland.

@entity1 @entity1118 @entity158
BACKGROUND: Individuals with @entity1118 are among the most frequent users of health care. Still, a significant percentage does not utilize health care for @entity158 . A range of factors predict @entity1118 -related health care utilization. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study aimed at identifying predictors of @entity1118 -related health care utilization and comparing predictors between @entity1 and @entity1 . METHODS: A postal questionnaire measuring sociodemographic variables, @entity158 characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and @entity158 -related health care utilization, was sent to a sample of 4500 individuals randomly drawn from the national population of Iceland. The relationships between sociodemographic and @entity158 -related factors and @entity158 -related health care utilization among @entity1 reporting @entity1118 (>= 3  months) were tested by using bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among @entity1 reporting @entity1118 , 53.2% had consulted a health care provider for @entity158 during the previous 6  months. Predictors for @entity1118 -related health care utilization differed between @entity1 and @entity1 . Interference with life and @entity158 pattern was the strongest predictors among @entity1 , as compared with interference with life and the physical components of HRQoL for @entity1 . @entity158 -related health care utilization was not linked to sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: @entity158 -related variables are better predictors of @entity1118 -related health care utilization than sociodemographic factors. Even though gender does not predict @entity1118 -related health care utilization, there are gender differences in the relationships between @entity158 -related variables and health care utilization. @entity1 tend to postpone health care consultations for @entity1118 longer than @entity1 .
