Alexandra M Yip1, George Kephart, Paul J Veugelers. 1. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the importance of both individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics for health care utilization. METHODS: Various linkage procedures generated a longitudinal dataset with information on 2,116 Nova Scotians, their residential neighbourhoods, 8 years of health care utilization and vital status. Unilevel and multilevel regression analyses were employed to examine the effects of both individual and neighbourhood characteristics on health care use. RESULTS: Individual income and education determined physician and hospital use. Also, neighbourhood characteristics, specifically average income and percentage of single mother families, were found to determine health care use. When considering individual and neighbourhood characteristics simultaneously, individual income and education determined physician and hospital use independently, while neighbourhood income determined physician use independently. CONCLUSIONS: Both individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics determine health care use. Acknowledging this allows better targeting of health policy and planning, and enables more accurate needs-based resource allocation.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the importance of both individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics for health care utilization. METHODS: Various linkage procedures generated a longitudinal dataset with information on 2,116 Nova Scotians, their residential neighbourhoods, 8 years of health care utilization and vital status. Unilevel and multilevel regression analyses were employed to examine the effects of both individual and neighbourhood characteristics on health care use. RESULTS: Individual income and education determined physician and hospital use. Also, neighbourhood characteristics, specifically average income and percentage of single mother families, were found to determine health care use. When considering individual and neighbourhood characteristics simultaneously, individual income and education determined physician and hospital use independently, while neighbourhood income determined physician use independently. CONCLUSIONS: Both individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics determine health care use. Acknowledging this allows better targeting of health policy and planning, and enables more accurate needs-based resource allocation.
Authors: Alexandre Dias Porto Chiavegatto Filho; Yuan-Pang Wang; Ana Maria Malik; Julia Takaoka; Maria Carmen Viana; Laura Helena Andrade Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2015-02-27 Impact factor: 2.106