COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS AND DEMAND FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AMONG THE ELDERLY IN HUE CITY

As the ageing population continues to increase, Vietnam health system has not yet met the health services needs and expectations of the older population and it requires a more comprehensive approach to improve the quality of care for them. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the common health problems and health care utilization of elderly in Hue city and to identidy their demand for health care services. Methods: A a cross-sectional study with stratified proportion sampling of 808 older people aged 60 and older living in Hue city was conducted in 2019. Using ICPC-2 code, Global Ageing and Adult health (SAGE) and EQ-5D-3L instrument to assess the common health problems, health care utilization, and quality of life among participants. Results: 58.5% of elderly had illness/disease with in the last 3 months. The average number of illness/ disease among participants was 1.49 (0.72). Symptoms most commonly reported by older persons included hypertension, knee symptom/complaint, diabetes mellitus, low back symptom/complaint, and cough. Most of the elderly visited higher level public hospitals such as central hospitals, district hospitals when having illness/disease. More than 80% of the respondents reported their demands on health services at primary care level, particularly on chronic disease management, periodic health checkup, health promotion and counselling, and palliative care. Conclusions: Vietnam’s healthcare system is being challenged to make health services easily accessible and meet the growing needs for chronic illness management, home care and improving the aging population’s quality of life. Key words: elderly, elderly care, health care utilization, health care demand