Doctor in the house: trends in GPs home visiting in Croatia 1990-1995 compared to current trends in USA and UK.

During the period of intensive economic, political and epidemiological transition in Croatia (1990-1995), significant changes in patterns, intensity and organization of home visiting were registered and reported. Quantitative instruments were employed to determine changes in trends of financing, health manpower policy and use of services before and after 1993 health care reforms. The qualitative part of research (e.g., cross-sectional and cross-national comparison of trends) was used to compare the significance of a reduction in the number of home visits as well as how its pattern fitted into the international trends (outburst of home visits in the USA and stagnation or decrease in the UK).