HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Freburger, J. K Articles by Holmes, G. M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Freburger, J. K Articles by Holmes, G. M

Physical Therapy Use by Community-Based Older People

JK Freburger, PT, PhD, is Research Associate and Fellow, Cecil G Sheps Center for Health Sciences Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 (USA) (janet_freburger{at}unc.edu)
GM Holmes, PhD, is Research Associate and Fellow, Cecil G Sheps Center for Health Sciences Research, University of North Carolina

Address all correspondence to Dr Freburger

Background and Purpose. Little information is available on factors associated with physical therapy use. Identifying the characteristics of people who use physical therapy and some of the factors associated with its use is a useful first step in determining whether disparities exist in physical therapy use. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with physical therapy use by community-based older people. Subjects. The subjects were community-based people 65 years of age or older who participated in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and had at least one physician encounter (N=38,312 person-years across 20,227 individuals). Methods. Logit and ordinary least squares regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with physical therapy use. Results. Several measures of health and function were associated with physical therapy use. Several demographic, insurance, and geographic characteristics also were associated with physical therapy use. Income, education, having supplemental private insurance, participating in a managed care plan, and physical therapist supply were positively associated with physical therapy use. Age was negatively associated with physical therapy use. For people who saw a physical therapist, amount of physical therapy received was positively associated with income, having supplemental private insurance, living in a metropolitan area, physical therapist supply, and being African American. Amount of physical therapy received was negatively associated with being in a managed care plan. Discussion and Conclusions. Variation in physical therapy use, explained by factors other than need, suggests potential underuse or overuse of physical therapy by community-based older people.

Key Words: Geriatrics • Health services accessibility • Health services for the aged • Health services misuse

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. K Carter and J. A Rizzo Use of Outpatient Physical Therapy Services by People With Musculoskeletal Conditions Physical Therapy, May 1, 2007; 87(5): 497 - 512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K Freburger, T. S Carey, and G. M Holmes Management of Back and Neck Pain: Who Seeks Care From Physical Therapists? Physical Therapy, September 1, 2005; 85(9): 872 - 886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]