Participating in and satisfaction to basic public health services-based physical examination among community elderly in eastern, central and western China

  Objective  To examine the utilization of and satisfaction to physical examination – one of items in basic public health services among community elderly in eastern, central and western China.

  Methods   With stratified multi-stage random sampling and a self-designed questionnaire, an onsite interviewer-assisted self-administered survey was conducted among 3 334 elderly attendees (aged 65 years and above) of 20 primary medical institutions during November – December 2019 in eastern, central and western China (Zhejiang province, Shanxi province and Chongqing municipality).

  Results   Of the 3 213 participants with eligible responses, 3 008 (93.6%) reported ever taking physical examination free of charge at community health service centers or township health centers during past one year. Among the 3 008 participants receiving the physical examination, 2 247 (74.7%) expressed the satisfaction to the check-up items of the physical examination. In terms of expected improvements for the physical examination, inclusion of more check up items was suggested by 49.6% of the participants, followed by increasing the frequency of physical examination, providing a more detailed physical examination report, and timely notification of the physical examination results which were suggested by 15.1%, 14.9%, and 12.3% of the participants, respectively.

  Conclusion   The utilization ratio of national basic public health services-based physical examination is high among community elderly in China but items and service processes of the physical examination still need to be improved.