ArticleBMC health services research2026
Psychosocial and health-related determinants of self-reported unmet healthcare needs in Türkiye: evidence from a nation-wide survey.
Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEquitable access to healthcare services remains a major public health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations. Despite significant improvements following comprehensive healthcare reforms in Türkiye, perceived unmet healthcare needs persist, disproportionately affecting individuals with chronic illnesses, depressive symptoms, and limited social support. This study, therefore, examines gender-stratified associations between these factors and different types of perceived unmet healthcare needs.
methodsWe analyzed data from the 2019 Türkiye Health Survey (n = 17,084), a nationally representative dataset. The primary outcome, perceived unmet healthcare needs, was a categorical variable capturing eight distinct types: long wait times, transportation difficulties, cost-related barriers to medical care, dental care, prescribed medications, mental healthcare, and the presence of multiple unmet needs. Key independent variables included social support, measured using the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3); depression, assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8 ≥ 10); and the presence of a long-standing illness. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by gender and adjusted for relevant sociodemographic covariates, were employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR). We also examined regional disparities in perceived unmet healthcare needs to better understand geographic variation in healthcare access across Türkiye.
resultsOverall, 46.7% of participants reported multiple unmet healthcare needs, with long wait times, dental costs, and transportation as leading barriers. Depression was strongly associated with unmet mental healthcare (men: aOR = 7.35; 95% CI: 2.10–15.75; women: aOR = 3.91; 95% CI: 1.34–5.46). Chronic illness increased the odds of unmet needs, especially for medical costs and mental healthcare (women: aOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.23–9.58; 9.41; 95% CI: 2.01–14.10). Social support was found to be a protective factor against perceived unmet healthcare needs among both men and women. Regional differences were evident across various perceived unmet healthcare needs, with individuals from all regions more likely to report experiencing multiple unmet needs.
conclusionAddressing healthcare inequalities requires tackling both structural and psychosocial barriers. Our results show that unmet needs are highest among those with chronic illness, depression, and low social support. Expanding the healthcare workforce and prioritizing disadvantaged groups can help reduce these gaps and improve access.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.