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Rural-urban differences in service use for memory-related problems in older adults

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Abstract

The reduced availability of providers and travel difficulties in rural areas may thwart older rural adults from getting the care they need for memory-related problems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether rural-urban differences exist in the probability of any service use of primary care physicians and mental health specialists in a full sample of older adults and in a subset of impaired respondents. In the full sample, rural respondents were 0.66 times as likely (p = .06) to have used primary care physicians for memory-related problems compared with urban respondents. In the subgroup, rural individuals were 0.26 times as likely (p = .02). In both groups, there were no rural-urban differences in the probability of mental health specialty use for memory-related problems. Further investigations are necessary to determine the causes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Geriatric Center of Excellence at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, USA

    Neale R. Chumbler PhD (health science specialist and research investigator)

  2. the Institute on Aging, University of Florida, 1329 SW 16th Street, Box 103505, 32610-3505, Gainesville, FL

    Neale R. Chumbler PhD (health science specialist and research investigator)

  3. HSR&D Center for Mental Health Care and Outcomes Research, Little Rock Veterans Affairs Medical Center, USA

    Marisue Cody PhD (Associate Director), Brenda M. Booth PhD (Research Health Scientist) & Cornelia K. Beck PhD, RN, FAAN (Professor)

  4. Departments of Geriatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Research Health Scientist, USA

    Marisue Cody PhD (Associate Director), Brenda M. Booth PhD (Research Health Scientist) & Cornelia K. Beck PhD, RN, FAAN (Professor)

Authors
  1. Neale R. Chumbler PhD
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  2. Marisue Cody PhD
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  3. Brenda M. Booth PhD
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  4. Cornelia K. Beck PhD, RN, FAAN
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Correspondence to Neale R. Chumbler PhD.

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Chumbler, N.R., Cody, M., Booth, B.M. et al. Rural-urban differences in service use for memory-related problems in older adults. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 28, 212–221 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287463

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