Table 3.
Communication and the characteristics of the participants ≥ 50 years old*
| Communication* | |||||
| Total** n (%) | Good n (%) | Fair n (%) | Poor n (%) | F-test p-value | |
| Sex | |||||
| Male | 103(25.9) | 71(23.8) | 14(28.0) | 18 (42.9) | F(2, 387) = 3.503 |
| Female | 293(73.8) | 227(76.2) | 36(72.0) | 24 (57.1) | p = .031 |
| Education | |||||
| Less than HS | 145(36.5) | 103(34.6) | 21(41.2) | 18 (42.9) | F(2, 388) = 0.409 |
| HS/ GED | 117(29.5) | 91 (30.5) | 14(27.5) | 9 (21.4) | p = .665 |
| Trade School/ College | 135(34.0) | 104(34.9) | 16(31.4) | 15 (35.7) | |
| Income | |||||
| <$20,000 | 184(51.0) | 132(48.4) | 26(57.8) | 23 (59.0) | F(2, 354) = 1.134 |
| $20,000–$49,999 | 128(35.5) | 102(37.4) | 12(26.7) | 13 (33.3) | p = .323 |
| ≥ $50,000 | 49 (13.6) | 39 (14.3) | 7 (15.6) | 3 (7.7) | |
| Marital Status | |||||
| Married | 213(53.8) | 164(55.2) | 22(43.1) | 24 (57.1) | F(2, 387) = 1.350 p=.261 |
| Divorced/ Widowed/ Separated | 162(40.9) | 116(39.1) | 26 (51.0) | 18 (42.9) | |
| Never married | 21 (5.3) | 17 (5.7) | 3 (5.9) | ----- | |
| Healthcare Facility*** | |||||
| Doctor's office | 325(82.7) | 250(85.0) | 40(78.4) | 29 (69.0) | F(2, 384) = 3.605 |
| Clinic/ER/Health Dept. | 68 (17.3) | 44 (15.0) | 11(21.6) | 13 (31.0) | p = .028 |
| Insurance**** | |||||
| Medicaid/Medicare | 176(44.3) | 137(46.0) | 19 (37.3) | 19 (45.2) | F(2, 388) = 0.669 p = .513 |
| No health insurance | 21 (5.3) | 14 (4.7) | 4 (7.8) | 3 (7.1) | F(2, 388) = 0.566 p = .568 |
| Employer/self-paid | 219(55.2) | 167(56.0) | 29 (56.9) | 18 (42.9) | F(2, 388) = 1.344 p = .262 |
*Communication categories: the mean score for each category was calculated from the individual scores (continuous values)
** Numbers may not reflect the total n = 397 because of participants' refusals or missing data
***This variable is based on the questionnaire item: Where do you usually go when you need health care?
****Insurance variables were dichotomized for each category. Totals may exceed 100%, some respondents marked multiple categories (e.g., they had Medicare in addition to self-paid insurance).