Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study
Abstract Objective Access to care is a multidimensional concept, considered as a structural aspect of health care quality; it reflects the functioning of a health care organization. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ experiences of access to care and to analyse factors associated wit...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3316-7 |
| _version_ | 1811229201158635520 |
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| author | Elina Tolvanen Tuomas H. Koskela Kari J. Mattila Elise Kosunen |
| author_facet | Elina Tolvanen Tuomas H. Koskela Kari J. Mattila Elise Kosunen |
| author_sort | Elina Tolvanen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Access to care is a multidimensional concept, considered as a structural aspect of health care quality; it reflects the functioning of a health care organization. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ experiences of access to care and to analyse factors associated with waiting times to GP appointments at Finnish health centres. A questionnaire survey was addressed to Finnish GPs within the Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe study framework. Two to nine patients per GP completed the questionnaire, altogether 1196. Main outcome measures were waiting times for appointments with GPs and factors associated with waiting times. In addition, patients’ opinions of access to appointments were analysed. Results Of the 988 patients who had made their appointment in advance, 84.9% considered it easy to secure an appointment, with 51.9% obtaining an appointment within 1 week. Age and reason for contact were the most significant factors affecting the waiting time. Elderly patients tended to have longer waiting times than younger ones, even when reporting illness as their reason for contact. Thus, waiting times for appointments tend to be prolonged in particular for the elderly and there is room for improvement in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:10:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02eaeeb335b341418fe5d3ae5d64d56f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:10:37Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-02eaeeb335b341418fe5d3ae5d64d56f2022-12-22T03:37:19ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002018-04-011111710.1186/s13104-018-3316-7Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC studyElina Tolvanen0Tuomas H. Koskela1Kari J. Mattila2Elise Kosunen3Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of TampereFaculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of TampereFaculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of TampereFaculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of TampereAbstract Objective Access to care is a multidimensional concept, considered as a structural aspect of health care quality; it reflects the functioning of a health care organization. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ experiences of access to care and to analyse factors associated with waiting times to GP appointments at Finnish health centres. A questionnaire survey was addressed to Finnish GPs within the Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe study framework. Two to nine patients per GP completed the questionnaire, altogether 1196. Main outcome measures were waiting times for appointments with GPs and factors associated with waiting times. In addition, patients’ opinions of access to appointments were analysed. Results Of the 988 patients who had made their appointment in advance, 84.9% considered it easy to secure an appointment, with 51.9% obtaining an appointment within 1 week. Age and reason for contact were the most significant factors affecting the waiting time. Elderly patients tended to have longer waiting times than younger ones, even when reporting illness as their reason for contact. Thus, waiting times for appointments tend to be prolonged in particular for the elderly and there is room for improvement in the future.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3316-7Access to health careWaiting timesGP appointments at health centresGeneral practitionersFinlandPrimary health care |
| spellingShingle | Elina Tolvanen Tuomas H. Koskela Kari J. Mattila Elise Kosunen Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study BMC Research Notes Access to health care Waiting times GP appointments at health centres General practitioners Finland Primary health care |
| title | Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study |
| title_full | Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study |
| title_short | Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study |
| title_sort | analysis of factors associated with waiting times for gp appointments in finnish health centres a qualicopc study |
| topic | Access to health care Waiting times GP appointments at health centres General practitioners Finland Primary health care |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3316-7 |
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