Health Services Utilization in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from a Large-Scale Online Survey

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 23; p. 15892
• Main Authors: Wei, Xia, Yuan, Haowen, Sun, Yan, Zhang, Jiawei, Wang, Qingbo, Fu, Yaqun, Wang, Quan, Sun, Li, Yang, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Anxiety; China - epidemiology; Chronic illnesses; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographics; Disease transmission; Education; Facilities and Services Utilization; Health care facilities; Health risks; Health services; Health services utilization; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Investigations; Medical records; Medical screening; Mental depression; Pandemics; Population; Public awareness; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Risk perception; SARS-CoV-2; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Temporal perception; Urban areas; Viral diseases; China; COVID-19; health seeking behavior; access; chronic disease; health services
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315892

Timely access to essential health services is a concern as COVID-19 continues. This study aimed to investigate health services utilization during the first wave of the pandemic in China. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a self-administrated questionnaire in March 2020. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis. A total of 4744 respondents were included, with 52.00% reporting affected services utilization. Clinical testing (68.14%) and drug purchase (49.61%) were the most affected types. Higher education level, being married, chronic disease, frequently visiting a provincial medical institution, spending more time on pandemic-related information, perception of high-risk of infection, perception of large health impact of the pandemic, and anxiety/depression were significant predictors for reporting affected services utilization. For the 431 chronic disease respondents, 62.18% reported interruption, especially for drug purchase (58.58%). Affected health services utilization was reported during the first wave of the pandemic in China, especially for those with higher education level, chronic diseases, and COVID-19 related concerns. Enhancing primary healthcare, use of telehealth, extended prescription, and public communication were countermeasures undertaken by China during the rapid rise period. As COVID-19 progresses, the changing disease characteristics, adapted health system, along with enhanced public awareness/knowledge should be considered for the evolution of health services utilization, and further investigation is needed.