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Avoidance of Healthcare Utilization in South Korea during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

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  • Minjung Lee

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
    Office of Dental Education, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Myoungsoon You

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
    Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

Abstract

Avoidance of healthcare utilization among the general population during pandemic outbreaks has been observed and it can lead to a negative impact on population health. The object of this study is to examine the influence of socio-demographic and health-related factors on the avoidance of healthcare utilization during the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020. Data were collected through an online survey four weeks after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed the first case in South Korea; 1000 subjects were included in the analysis. The logit model for regression was used to analyze the associations between sociodemographic and health-related factors regarding the avoidance of healthcare utilization. Among the participants, 73.2% avoided healthcare utilization, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of healthcare avoidance between groups with (72.0%) and without (74.9%) an underlying disease. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income level, and residential area) were related to healthcare avoidance. Among the investigated influencing factors, residential areas highly affected by COVID-19 (i.e., Daegu/Gyeoungbuk region) had the most significant effect on healthcare avoidance. This study found a high prevalence of healthcare avoidance among the general population who under-utilized healthcare resources during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the results reveal that not all societal groups share the burden of healthcare avoidance equally, with it disproportionately affecting those with certain sociodemographic characteristics. This study can inform healthcare under-utilization patterns during emerging infectious disease outbreaks and provide information to public health emergency management for implementing strategies necessary to improve the preparedness of the healthcare system.

Suggested Citation

  • Minjung Lee & Myoungsoon You, 2021. "Avoidance of Healthcare Utilization in South Korea during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4363-:d:539709
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chang, H.-J. & Huang, N. & Lee, C.-H. & Hsu, Y.-J. & Hsieh, C.-J. & Chou, Y.-J., 2004. "The Impact of the SARS Epidemic on the Utilization of Medical Services: SARS and the Fear of SARS," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(4), pages 562-564.
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