Nurse practitioner clinic utilization by elderly women.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the utilization patterns of elderly women in a nurse managed clinic (NMC). A convenience sample of 20 women, 65 and older, attending an NMC completed an questionnaire and an interview. A pilot study guided the development of the questionnaire. Interrater reliability was performed to enhance the reliability of the pattern categories developed from the interviews. The findings of this research were that elderly women utilized this NMC for: physical assessment and monitoring; health care information; evaluating a physical need; referral; emotional support; socialization; convenience; cost; familiarity/comfort; health care need; and reliability. Satisfaction was the main component of the clients' perception of their visit to the NMC. Conclusions reached were that utilization of this NMC was based mainly on perceptions of health care needs and that cost, convenience, and familiarity influenced clients in choosing this clinic in addition to their primary care provider.