Behavioral Science

Health Care in the United States 195
Is hospice expensive to the health-care
system?
No—patients generally receive more
services with less expenditure than if
they were to be repeatedly hospitalized.
HEALTH STATUS AND DETERMINANTS
What is the percentage of physical Approximately 70%
illness that is due to individual
patterns of living (eg, lack of exercise,
poor dietary choices, and smoking)?
What are the primary determinants
of socioeconomic status?
Which socioeconomic group tends
to delay seeking health care and
present with more progressive
illnesses?
Which gender is most likely to seek
medical care?
Which gender has the lowest life
expectancy?
Which group of people has the lowest
life expectancy with regards to race
and gender?
Which group of people has the highest
life expectancy with regards to race
and gender?
Which group of people represents
the fastest growing segment of the
US population?
Education level
Income
Occupation
Residence
People of low socioeconomic status →
due to lack of funds for health care
Female
Male
Black males
Asian women
Elderly
What is the percentage of health- 30%
care costs the elderly population is
responsible for?
Which ethnic minority represents the
largest percent of the US population?
What are the leading causes of death
in the United States, irrespective of
age group?
Hispanic
Heart disease
Cancer
Stroke