Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyle Factors on Healthcare-seeking Behavior in China

Background: People with unhealthy lifestyles may experience omitted or delayed healthcare, leading to severe sickness and higher healthcare expenditures in the future. Hence, the current study aims to ascertain the effects of current smoking, regular drinking, and physical inactivity on healthcare-seeking behavior among the sick in China. Methods: : The data used in this study was obtained from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The final sample consisted of 44,362 individuals in all five waves of data collection. Logistic regression models were used for the analysis. Results: : Based on the tests, the fixed effects estimation was the preferred method for panel data in this study. The current study found that sick adults who currently smoked cigarettes were 0.73 times less likely to seek healthcare than those who never smoked or stopped smoking. Compared to non-drinkers, sick adults who regularly drank alcohol decreased the likelihood of seeking healthcare. Sick adults who never participated in physical exercise decreased the odds of seeking healthcare by 24% compared to those who participated in physical exercise. Conclusions: : Current smoking, regular drinking, and physical inactivity decreased the probability of seeking healthcare among sick adults. Therefore, screening and brief advice programs should be delivered by primary level care and pay more attention to those who have unhealthy lifestyles, reducing the burden of diseases.