Does elapsed time between first diagnosis of schizophrenia and migration between health territories vary by place of residence? A survival analysis approach.

Migration of patients with schizophrenia might influence health care access and utilization. However, the time between diagnosis and migration of these patients has not yet been explored. We studied the first migration between health territories of 6873 patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia in Quebec in 2001, aiming to describe the pattern of migration and assess the influence of the place of residence on migration. Between 2001 and 2007, 34.5% of patients migrated between health territories; those living in metropolitan areas were more likely to migrate than others but tended to remain in metropolitan areas. Migrant patients were also more likely to stay in or migrate to the most socially or materially deprived territories.