Martine Lafrance1, Nicole Leduc. 1. Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en santé, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7. martine.lafrance@sympatico.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service is one of the Quebec health network's reorganization measures aimed at decreasing the number of visits to hospital emergency rooms for non-urgent health problems. This study analyzes the awareness of this service among users of hospital emergency services and walk-in medical clinics. METHODS: In all, 850 patients were interviewed. Logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: The results revealed that 75.5% (CI .95 = 0.73-0.78) of the participants were indeed aware of the CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service. Awareness was found to be dependent on age, sex, income, the use of walk-in CLSC medical services, the availability of a regular source of health care and the perception of one's health status. INTERPRETATION: Further strategies should be developed in order to increase the use of this service, thus helping to guide patients to more appropriate sources of health care.
BACKGROUND: The CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service is one of the Quebec health network's reorganization measures aimed at decreasing the number of visits to hospital emergency rooms for non-urgent health problems. This study analyzes the awareness of this service among users of hospital emergency services and walk-in medical clinics. METHODS: In all, 850 patients were interviewed. Logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: The results revealed that 75.5% (CI .95 = 0.73-0.78) of the participants were indeed aware of the CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service. Awareness was found to be dependent on age, sex, income, the use of walk-in CLSC medical services, the availability of a regular source of health care and the perception of one's health status. INTERPRETATION: Further strategies should be developed in order to increase the use of this service, thus helping to guide patients to more appropriate sources of health care.