Journals Proceedings

Abstract

This paper explored the utilization of emergency medicine between the widowers and widows among the elderly in Taiwan. Subject data were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan, a study conducted in 2009 that encompassed observations 65 years of age and older. Chi-square test was used to determine the utilization of emergency medicine between the widowers and widows. Main empirical results confirmed that the life satisfaction, budget balance, self-reported health, functional limitation, and stroke significantly associated with utilization of emergency medicine for both widowers and widows. Nevertheless, diabetes significantly raised the utilization of emergency medicine for widows but not for widowers. Moreover, the utilization of emergency medicine was strongly correlated with predisposing, enabling and need characteristics among the elderly widowhood.