Seeking medical services among rural empty-nest elderly in China: a qualitative study

• Published in: BMC geriatrics 2022-03, Vol.22 (1), p.202-202, Article 202
• Main Authors: Wu, Yijin, Zhang, Quan, Huang, Yan, Qiu, Sihang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Behavior; China; China - epidemiology; Empty-nest elderly; Health aspects; Humans; Medical care; Qualitative Research; Rural aged; Rural areas; Rural Population; Seeking medical services; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Utilization
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-02911-0

The number of empty-nest elderly in China is rapidly increasing. Empty-nest elderly could not receive adequate daily care, economic support and spiritual consolation from their children. Rural empty-nest elderly are facing more serious health challenges than those in urban areas. This study aimed to understand the experiences of rural empty-nest elderly in seeking medical services in China. The method of inductive content analysis was used to collect and analyze data. Data were collected by in-depth interviews. A total number of 16 participants were involved in this study. A semi-structured interview guideline, which was discussed in depth and agreed upon by all researchers, was used to encourage participants to talk about their experiences in seeking medical services. Rural empty-nest elderly is facing a great challenge in seeking medical services in China. There are some barriers for rural nest elderly to get access to healthcare services, such as low-income status, high expenditure of medical treatment and inadequate health insurance coverage. Due to the absence of the companionship of their adult children, empty-nest elderly have to rely on their neighbors and relatives to seek medical services. Rural empty-nest elderly have great difficulty in seeking medical services in China. More efforts should be made to get medical services more accessible to rural empty-nest elderly.