Discrimination of Elderly Patients in Health Care: A Case Study in Lithuania

Created on 14th January 2022

Conference: The Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology (AGen2022)
Title: Discrimination of Elderly Patients in Health Care: A Case Study in Lithuania
Stream: Aging and Gerontology
Presentation Type: Virtual Poster Presentation
Authors:
Kristina Selli, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Snieguolė Kaselienė, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Skirmantė Sauliūnė, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Ramunė Kalėdienė, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Mindaugas Stankūnas, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse opinions and experiences of elderly persons in discrimination in health care due to their age.

Method: A random selection was performed among 60-84 year old citizens of Kaunas city. The information was gathered via sending questionnaires to the respondents in the second half of 2019. Sample size was 492 people. The data were analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistics (version 27.0). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate participants’ attitudes toward older people age discrimination and examine factors associated with it.

Results: This study identified that the majority of the respondents (74.8%) believe that the assurance of their rights is not consistently being improved by the government. Almost half of the respondents (42.5%) think that young and old people are not provided with health care services equally. Nearly half of the respondents (41.1%) have experienced discrimination by age themselves (marking 3 of 9 statements affirmatively). More than half of the respondents (64.0%) think that the inner culture of doctors influences their discriminatory behaviour towards older patients. Poor self-reported health and financial status were the main risk factors for age discrimination in health care, with OR of 4.02 and 1.94, respectively (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In consequence this study has disclosed the need to prepare a public policy to improve the assurance of rights of the elderly. Moreover, the education of health specialist on equity is imperative and should be implemented in their training, qualifying and upskilling.