Social relationships and physician utilization among older adults-A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In older age health needs and demand for health services utilization increase. Individual's social relationships can play a decisive role regarding the utilization of outpatient health care services. This systematic review examines the associations of structural and functional dimensions of social relationships with outpatient health services use of older adults.

Methods

The databases PubMed, CINAHL, SocINDEX, PsycINFO, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Sociological Abstracts, and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) were searched in February 2016. The methodological and reporting quality of the articles was assessed and the results were synthesized descriptively and systematically.

Results

Out of 1.392 hits, 36 articl

SUBMITTER: Bremer D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5619811 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature