The health needs of urban and rural residents in Jiangsu province and a preliminary study of influencing factors are presented here. Simultaneously, preventive care should be provided with a focus on improving the treatment level of healthcare workers for common and frequently occurring conditions, especially emergency treatment technology. The work of city hospitals and community health service centers should not only include disease treatment but also prevention, governance, security, health, and education. Especially for tertiary hospitals, the work should not be limited to treatment but should comprehensively serve the masses.
3.2 Great importance should be attached to regular medical examinations for residents, and efforts should be made to strengthen their organization and leadership so that periodic medical examinations become the most hoped-for preventive health service by residents of our province (42.8%). This is consistent with the findings of the survey conducted by the Yangzhou Municipal Health Bureau (regular check-ups at 59.17%) and the Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung, and Vascular Diseases (62% need for healthy people). This reflects residents' awareness of preventive healthcare. However, hospital physical examinations have cumbersome procedures, lack specificity, and examining physicians have a low business level, thus failing to meet the health needs of residents. Coupled with the lack of special funds and institutions, the penetration rate of physical examinations is relatively low. It can be seen from the survey results that blue-collar workers (51.2%), northern rural areas (51.6%), and residents over the age of 45 (52.8%) have higher demands for regular medical examinations than other groups, indicating insufficient fairness in our health services. The health sector should take the following measures: (1) Establish specialized agencies to provide medical services for residents and expand the penetration rate of regular medical examinations. (2) Establish permanent health records for residents and conduct targeted inspections based on their age and gender differences. Carry out periodic health checks. (3) For the elderly and infirm, door-to-door services should be provided so that they can receive expert medical examinations at home. (4) After medical examinations, personalized prescriptions involving diet, exercise, and medicine should be provided for residents.
3.3 Emphasize resident knowledge of preventive health education. Learning and understanding preventive healthcare knowledge has become an important health need for residents (37.5%). However, most hospitals and community health service centers in China only scratch the surface when it comes to conducting health education, and its actual effect is not satisfactory. Hospitals and community health service centers should strengthen preventive health literacy and institutionalize it regularly, standardize it diversely, and highlight its relevance, scientific validity, interest, and artistry to promote residents' health.
3.4 Strengthen scientific guidance in physical training. The WHO has been promoting physical exercise and other healthy lifestyles as the most important measures to prevent non-communicable diseases. The viewpoint that exercise can promote health has been accepted by more and more people, and the number of those voluntarily participating in physical exercise is increasing. However, besides the lack of regulations, policies, and venues for physical exercise, there is also a lack of scientific guidance on physical activity among residents. Apart from some guidance in fitness centers in major cities, sports and fitness and exercise prescriptions, hospitals and community health service centers rarely provide such services.
3.5 Strengthen scientific guidance on the choice of health care products. According to a study of the health products industry in 2001, currently, China’s health care products annual output value exceeds 500 billion, and the consumption expenditure of urban and rural residents on health care products reaches up to 20%. The growth rate of urban and rural health care consumption expenditure is between 15-30%, far higher than the 13% growth rate in developed countries. However, due to false propaganda in health care advertising and residents’ lack of relevant expertise, many residents inevitably make blind purchases. A Guangzhou health care consumer survey shows that only 13.9% purchase health care products based on a doctor’s advice. Healthcare workers should enhance their awareness and understanding of health care products to help people choose them wisely.