Health status and utilisation of the healthcare system by homeless and non-homeless people in Vienna

Wagner J, Diehl K, Mutsch L, Loeffler W, Burkert N, Freidl W (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Health & Social Care in the Community Wiley-Blackwell

Book Volume: 22

Pages Range: 300-307

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12083

Abstract

This case-control study describes the health situation, internal and external resources, and utilisation of healthcare facilities by a marginalised population consisting of homeless people in Vienna, Austria, compared with a non-homeless control population. Among the homeless group, participants lived in halfway houses (70%) or permanent housing (30%) in Vienna. Personal interviews were conducted in July 2010 with 66 homeless individuals, and their data were compared with data from non-homeless subjects from the Austrian Health Interview Survey using conditional logistic regression. Compared with the control group, homeless persons suffered more often from chronic diseases (P < 0.001) and rated their health considerably lower than the comparison group (P < 0.001). Homeless people suffered significantly more often from psychiatric disorders, respiratory diseases, hypertension (P < 0.001), digestive system diseases (P = 0.002) and heart diseases (P = 0.015) in comparison with the control group. Additionally, among homeless and non-homeless individuals, the former more often consulted a general practitioner in a period of 28 days (P = 0.002). A significantly greater proportion of homeless people did not have any teeth (P = 0.024) and smoked significantly more (P = 0.002). The results demonstrate deficits in the areas of health, health behaviour, and individual and social resources of homeless people, even though homeless people seek medical care at a higher rate than controls. Continuing health promotion projects for this high-risk group and the strengthening of social resources are recommended.

Authors with CRIS profile

Katharina Diehl

Involved external institutions

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) neunerhaus - Hilfe für obdachlose Menschen AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Wagner, J., Diehl, K., Mutsch, L., Loeffler, W., Burkert, N., & Freidl, W. (2014). Health status and utilisation of the healthcare system by homeless and non-homeless people in Vienna. Health & Social Care in the Community, 22(3), 300-307. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12083

MLA:

Wagner, Julia, et al. "Health status and utilisation of the healthcare system by homeless and non-homeless people in Vienna." Health & Social Care in the Community 22.3 (2014): 300-307.

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