THE PREDICTIVE CONTRIBUTION OF PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS TO THE NON-USE OF HEALTH SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Background: The avoidance of medical examinations by patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19
pandemic has been well-documented in previous research. However, a notable shortcoming in existing studies is the
neglect of psychological characteristics’ influence on the postponement of medical examinations.
Objective: This study aimed to address the observed decline in patient response at Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb
to diagnostic and control medical examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research sought to examine the
predictive contribution of anxiety, depression, stress, and coping strategies to the postponement of examinations, while
controlling for demographic variables.
Methods: Utilizing a survey design, the researchers collected data by distributing a battery of questionnaires. A
sample of 190 patients with chronic diseases from the Department of internal medicine in Clinical Hospital Center
Zagreb was selected through a convenient non-probability sample technique.
Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant gender-based difference in postponing health examinations, with women
exhibiting a higher tendency to delay examinations compared to men. The research also indicated a notable correlation
between the postponement of health examinations and anxiety, depression and stress. Furthermore, data revealed that
anxiety, depression, stress and coping strategies were found to contribute substantially to explaining the variance in the
postponement of health examinations, while gender emerged as the sole significant independent predictor.
Conclusion: The research findings pinpoint specific groups within the population requiring special attention from
the healthcare system during crises like pandemics. The results showed that there is a significant difference in
postponing health check-ups according to gender, whereby women are more inclined to neglect health care. Also, it
was shown that demographic characteristics, stress, anxiety, depression and coping strategies are significant predictors
of postponing medical examinations, with gender being the only significant independent predictor The discussion delves
into the limitations and implications of these findings.