Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Yrd.Doç Dr. Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı ABD., Kayseri
Uzman Dr. Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı ABD., Kayseri
Arş.Gör.Dr. Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı ABD., Kayseri
Prof.Dr. Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı ABD., Kayseri The aim of this study was to determine the utilisation of health services by elderlies and the affecting factors. This cross-sectional study was carried out in seven health centres of Kayseri Health, Training and Research Area in 2001. People in the research group were visited in their homes and a questionnaire including questions about application and satisfaction status of them was applied by face-to-face interviews. The rate of application to health institutions was 93.3 % and mean number of application was 5.86 in last year. There was no difference between the number of application according to sexes, educational status, age groups and living alone or with family. The mean number was found higher in people living urban areas, having chronic disease and using drug continuously. The people who had low economical status and without social insurance had applied health centres more frequently. Of all the elderlies 83.8 % of them stated that they have at least one chronic disease. The leading chronic diseases in them were hypertension (42.7 %), rheumatism diseases (38.6 %) and heart disease (23.3 %). The first preferred health institution by aged people was health centres (55.6 %) and also they were stated that they were most satisfied with health centres (90.8 %). As a result, utilisation of health services by elderlies was sufficient in the region. In this study it was shown that health centres were very important for people who had low socio-economic status and people without social insurance and also were the most satisfied places. For this reason to improve the health centres for diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases is important. Keywords : Health services, Application, Health centre, Elderlies, Satisfaction