臨床小児科: オープンアクセス
オープンアクセス

概要

Factors Associated with the Adult Children’s Willingness to Utilize Elderly Medical Escort Service for Outpatient Visit in China: A Mixed-Methods Research

Huanhuan Zhou, Yuhan Wang, Jie Shi, Shiyu Ji, Xianyu Hu, Shangqun Luo, Dingding Zhou, Lining Wang, Jue Lu, Linlin Zhang, Xiaona Li*

China is facing big pressure due to its high aging rate. Compared to other age groups, the elderly are characterized by a high number of multiple chronic diseases and need to frequently visit hospitals. However, most seniors are unable to independently complete medical treatments in smart hospitals with complex self-help integrated machines, scattered departments, popular appointment registration, and convenient mobile payment, and need to be accompanied by their adult children. Medical escorts might replace the offspring’s role, but their willingness to utilize Elderly Medical Escort Service (EMES) is associated with different factors. Among 1936 individuals that responded to the questionnaire, 68.2% were willing to use the EMES. The willingness to utilize EMES was associated with long-distance separation from seniors (OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.98), difficulties in taking leaves to accompany the elderly to medical appointments (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.11-1.73), outpatient satisfaction (OR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.13-1.36), payment for EMES (OR=2.56, 95% CI: 2.07-3.18), escorts being trained (OR=2.35, 95% CI: 1.80-3.07) and licensed (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.01-1.72), and EMES being graded (OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.48-2.51). Both data suggested that regarding training, participants paid more attention to professional ethics. Additionally, the traditional Chinese culture of filial piety cannot be ignored while using EMES. This survey indicated that the demands of the children’s willingness to utilize EMES are high and urgent. The results might guide EMES providers to improve their professional skills especially ethics and combine the need for children to do their filial duty that would be welcomed by users.