Kathryn Hoffmann1, Katharina Viktoria Stein, Thomas Ernst Dorner. 1. Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1st floor, 1090, Vienna, Austria, kathryn.hoffmann@meduniwien.ac.at.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The nine Austrian regions differ according to demographic parameter, health status, and health care structure. It was the aim of this study to analyse whether there are also differences in access points towards the level of ambulatory care. METHOD: The Austrian Health Interview Survey (2006-2007) data with 15,474 participants were used for this cross-sectional analysis. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics as well as multivariate logistic regression models and correlations. RESULTS: There were significant differences in patients with direct utilisation of specialists without having consulted a general practitioner (GP) in the same period in the Austrian regions, with highest proportions for women in Vorarlberg (20.3%) and men in Vienna (21.5%) and lowest in Burgenland (7.0 and 6.6%, respectively). The specialist/GP ratio correlated significantly with the direct specialist utilisation (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.717). CONCLUSION: There are spatial differences in the health care utilisation within the Austrian regions, which partly can be explained by the disposal of health care structure. These findings are of special importance according to the ongoing debate concerning the topic strengthening the primary health care sector in Austria.
BACKGROUND: The nine Austrian regions differ according to demographic parameter, health status, and health care structure. It was the aim of this study to analyse whether there are also differences in access points towards the level of ambulatory care. METHOD: The Austrian Health Interview Survey (2006-2007) data with 15,474 participants were used for this cross-sectional analysis. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics as well as multivariate logistic regression models and correlations. RESULTS: There were significant differences in patients with direct utilisation of specialists without having consulted a general practitioner (GP) in the same period in the Austrian regions, with highest proportions for women in Vorarlberg (20.3%) and men in Vienna (21.5%) and lowest in Burgenland (7.0 and 6.6%, respectively). The specialist/GP ratio correlated significantly with the direct specialist utilisation (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.717). CONCLUSION: There are spatial differences in the health care utilisation within the Austrian regions, which partly can be explained by the disposal of health care structure. These findings are of special importance according to the ongoing debate concerning the topic strengthening the primary health care sector in Austria.
Authors: Kathryn Hoffmann; K Viktoria Stein; Manfred Maier; Anita Rieder; Thomas E Dorner Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2013-01-31 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Dionne S Kringos; Wienke G W Boerma; Yann Bourgueil; Thomas Cartier; Toralf Hasvold; Allen Hutchinson; Margus Lember; Marek Oleszczyk; Danica Rotar Pavlic; Igor Svab; Paolo Tedeschi; Andrew Wilson; Adam Windak; Toni Dedeu; Stefan Wilm Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2010-10-27 Impact factor: 2.497
Authors: Kathryn Hoffmann; Robin Ristl; Aaron George; Manfred Maier; Otto Pichlhöfer Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2019-09-12 Impact factor: 2.581