The Predicting Factors of Primary Health Care Services Access of the Elderly Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

               This study examines the predictive power of the factors that can help predict primary health care services access of the elderly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The research conducted is based on a sample of 94 elderly people (over 60 years old) living in Bangkok. The 94 participants were selected via multistage random sampling, and the research was conducted through a questionnaire. Data were collected between February and April 2021, in line with the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feedback data from the questionnaires have been analyzed by descriptive statistics which consist of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics. These factors comprise caregivers, income, perceptions of primary health services, and social support while applying the Pearson’s rank correlation and entering multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the perception of primary health care services and social support could predict the elderly’s access to primary health care services amid the COVID-19 pandemic by 34.1% ( = .341, p < .05). Therefore, the elderly will have greater access to primary health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care facility administrators should develop primary health care services covering both health promotion, disease control & prevention, and treatment and rehabilitation. Furthermore, health care facility administrators should encourage public health personnel to apply the concept of social support to facilitate the elderly having access to primary health care services during the COVID-9 situation.