| Abstract: | In this article we describe development of RUDI (Rural-Urban Demand Indicator), a multivariate interval level measure of demand for health services. RUDI ranks counties by population and purchasing power and was developed for use in a wide variety of health-related research and for policy analyses. RUDI is based on microeconomic theory and Grossman's (1972) extension of the theory, that the family produces health and that the family's demand for health services is derived from the demand for health. Two factors define RUDI: DEMOS (demographics) and EWB (economic well-being). These two factors accounted for 66.2% of the variance observed in 1990 census data. A variety of other analyses offer evidence of known- groups, convergent, factorial, and predictive validity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 21: 453–466, 1998 |
