Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that lead people to visit a doctor in Brazil and assess differences between socioeconomic groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising 1,260 subjects aged 15 or more was carried out in southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, health needs and regular source...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade de São Paulo
2003-01-01
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| Series: | Revista de Saúde Pública |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-89102003000300017 |
| _version_ | 1817996228873420800 |
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| author | Mendoza-Sassi Raúl Béria Jorge U Barros Aluísio J D |
| author_facet | Mendoza-Sassi Raúl Béria Jorge U Barros Aluísio J D |
| author_sort | Mendoza-Sassi Raúl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that lead people to visit a doctor in Brazil and assess differences between socioeconomic groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising 1,260 subjects aged 15 or more was carried out in southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, health needs and regular source of care data were analyzed concerning visits to a doctor within two months from the interview. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Adjusted PR showed that women having stressful life events, health insurance, and a regular doctor increased the outcome. A dose-related response was found with self-reported health, and the probability of visiting a doctor increased with health needs. Analysis in the chronic disease group revealed that uneducated lower income subjects had a 62% reduction in the chance of visiting a doctor compared to uneducated higher income ones. However, as it was seen a significant interaction between income and education, years of schooling increased utilization in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the existence of health inequity in the poorest group that could be overcome with education. Specific measures reinforcing the importance of having a regular doctor may also improve access in the underserved group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:19:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8362062e36849b78b98440fb8df0b9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-8910 1518-8787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:19:05Z |
| publishDate | 2003-01-01 |
| publisher | Universidade de São Paulo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Saúde Pública |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8362062e36849b78b98440fb8df0b9b2022-12-22T02:18:05ZengUniversidade de São PauloRevista de Saúde Pública0034-89101518-87872003-01-01373372378Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based studyMendoza-Sassi RaúlBéria Jorge UBarros Aluísio J DOBJECTIVE: To identify factors that lead people to visit a doctor in Brazil and assess differences between socioeconomic groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising 1,260 subjects aged 15 or more was carried out in southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, health needs and regular source of care data were analyzed concerning visits to a doctor within two months from the interview. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Adjusted PR showed that women having stressful life events, health insurance, and a regular doctor increased the outcome. A dose-related response was found with self-reported health, and the probability of visiting a doctor increased with health needs. Analysis in the chronic disease group revealed that uneducated lower income subjects had a 62% reduction in the chance of visiting a doctor compared to uneducated higher income ones. However, as it was seen a significant interaction between income and education, years of schooling increased utilization in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the existence of health inequity in the poorest group that could be overcome with education. Specific measures reinforcing the importance of having a regular doctor may also improve access in the underserved group.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-89102003000300017Health services/utilizationHealth services accessibilityEquity in accessSocioeconomic factors |
| spellingShingle | Mendoza-Sassi Raúl Béria Jorge U Barros Aluísio J D Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study Revista de Saúde Pública Health services/utilization Health services accessibility Equity in access Socioeconomic factors |
| title | Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study |
| title_full | Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study |
| title_fullStr | Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study |
| title_short | Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study |
| title_sort | outpatient health service utilization and associated factors a population based study |
| topic | Health services/utilization Health services accessibility Equity in access Socioeconomic factors |
| url | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-89102003000300017 |
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