The Andersen Model

The Andersen Model, also known as the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, is a framework that helps explain why individuals seek medical care. It identifies three main factors: **predisposing factors** (personal characteristics like age or beliefs), **enabling factors** (resources such as income or access to healthcare), and **need factors** (actual health conditions). Together, these elements determine how likely someone is to use health services. By understanding these factors, policymakers and healthcare providers can improve access to care and address disparities in health service utilization.