Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify some of the factors associated with student usage of the Student Health Services (SHS)
and of the Infirmary at Oregon State University. The population for the study was the freshman class entering Oregon State University in September, 1968. The original enrollment of this group was 3282 students--1830 males and 1452 females. The
study covered a five year period to account for students who took five years to graduate or who were enrolled in five-year programs.
Nine student characteristics were used as variabless sex, college class, socio-economic level, SAT verbal and math scores, distance of permanent residence from campus (tested for Oregon residents only), state of residence, OSU college or school from which
graduated, graduation versus non-graduation, change of major versus non-change of major. Each of these characteristics was tested to
determine relationship to frequency of utilization of the SHS and the Infirmary. The records from the Student Health Services, the
Dean of Students Office, and the Office of the Registrar provided the data for the study. The staff determined the number of times each student in the sample used any of the SHS and the number of times each student used the Infirmary during each of the five years under study. The Chi Square Test of Independence was used to determine the
significance of the relationship between the selected student characteristics and the frequency of visits to the SHS and also to
the Infirmary. The following conclusions were drawn concerning overall usages 1. By the end of the fifth year 91% of the students who
graduated had made at least one visit to the SHS and 38% were admitted to the Infirmary at least one time. 2. Of those who did not graduate, 72% made use of the SHS during the time they were on campus and 20% were admitted to the Infirmary. 3. The average number of visits per year for the male graduates ranged from 2.55 to 3.42 while the average number of SHS visits per year for the female graduate ranged from 2.53 to 4.24. Significant findings as to student characteristics associated with usage of the Student Health Services were as follows 1. Females utilized the SHS more than males. 2. Freshman students utilized the SHS more than upperclassmen. 3. Female graduates who did not change majors utilized the SHS more than female graduates who changed majors. 4. Graduates from geographic areas outside the Corvallis area utilized the SHS more than the graduates from the Corvallis area. Significant findings as to student characteristics associated with usage of the Infirmary were as follows: 1. Freshman students utilized the Infirmary more than upperclassmen. 2. Female graduates who were non-residents utilized the Infirmary more than female graduates who were residents
of the State of Oregon. Explanations concerning the results of the study are offered, and further research recommendations are proposed.
