The Role Of Family Type In Healthcare Use: “Grandparents Effect”

Objective: Family has an important place in the life of the individual as the most basic element of the society. In the traditional structure of Turkish society, grandparents transfer their experiences they have gained over time to other family members, especially their grandchildren, and they are a guiding and spiritual source of satisfaction. The aim of the study is to determine the health service usage levels of large and nuclear families living in the province of Isparta and to measure the effect of grandparents living in the family (grandmother, grandmother, grandfather, etc.) on the healthcare procurement of other individuals in the family. Method: In the research, survey method was used as a data collection tool, the scale form created by the researcher was directed to the participants and SPSS package program was used for data analysis. 415 families living in the province of Isparta selected by the method of “easy sampling” participated in the study. Results: In the research findings, the participants were examined as nuclear family and extended family and individuals; A statistically significant difference was found between nuclear families and extended families in outpatient clinic, family medicine, private physician healthcare use. In addition, preferences to cope with simple, serious and very serious (fatal) diseases directed to the participants also have a statistically significant difference between nuclear families and extended families. However, a statistically significant difference in the use of traditional medicine was not achieved among family types. Conclusion: As a result of the research, it has been determined that the level of healthcare use of individuals in certain areas is affected by the family type, and the use of healthcare in families with large parents is reduced.