Rheumatoid arthritis and the use of medical services

Although there have been several studies examining the direct and indirect costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), no studies have analyzed the group and individual factors that are associated with the use of services among RA patients. The present study applies the behavioral model of health services utilization developed by Andersen to data derived from interviews with 288 RA patients. The behavioral model proposes that the use of services is related to predisposing, enabling, and need variables. All visits within 6 months of the interview that were initiated by the patient, requested by the physician, in response to RA flare-ups and/or for physical therapy were analyzed. Ever having had surgery for RA also was analyzed. The results indicate that predisposing and enabling variables are related to use among these RA patients and, therefore, use is not a simple function of need.