Access to health care and self-rated health among community-dwelling olderadults

Objective: This study examined the relationship between access to health ca re and self-rated health among community-dwelling persons aged 65 years and older Data Source: The analyses were based on a sample of 2,982 participan ts from the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the E lderly. Study Design: This study was a secondary data analysis using longit udinal data collected in 1987 and again in 1990. Logistic regression was us ed to determine change to poor self-rated health from excellent, good, or f air self-rated health. Principal Finding: In a multivariate model, one of t he seven access to health care indicators was found to be significantly rel ated to reporting poor self-rated health. Controlling for demographics and other potential confounders, the odds of reporting poor self-rated health w ere approximately 87% higher among those without private health coverage.