Health care utilization patterns of hypertensive and diabetic African American elderly.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers conducted a pilot study of the African American elderly in a major urban setting to determine factors influencing health care utilization patterns of patients with hypertension or diabetes. The data collected included household composition, family and social networks, histories of depression, self-esteem, health locus of control, locus of control, activities of daily living (ADLs) and health care utilization. Final analysis revealed significant correlations between ADLs, self-esteem, depression, locus of control, social support systems and health care utilization patterns. Economic factors were significantly correlated with ADLs especially regarding poverty as the critical variable in the well-being of elderly African Americans. The data revealed significant indicators for future study relative to assisting the elderly in maintaining their independence. There is also a need for controlled longitudinal studies on the impact of economic status on the overall health of aging minorities.