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[Factors determining demands for medical consultations in family practice]

Jarosław W Szydłowski1

  • 1Pracowni Organizacji i Ekonomiki Ochrony Zdrowia Zakładu Higieny i Epidemiologii Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej w Szczecinie. pracorg.sci.pam.azczecin.pl

Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
|March 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This study found that women utilized general practitioner consultations more than men. Demand patterns showed similar trends for both sexes, with distinct high, low, and growing demand periods over time.

Area of Science:

  • Health Services Research
  • Primary Care Medicine
  • Public Health Policy

Background:

  • The implementation of a common insurance system in Poland aimed to improve healthcare access.
  • Understanding patient demand for primary care services is crucial for resource allocation and system efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the demand for general practitioner (GP) consultations in Poland following the introduction of a national health insurance system.
  • To analyze consultation demand based on patient demographics, specifically age and sex.

Main Methods:

  • A 36-month prospective cohort study involving 1700 patients (952 women, 748 men) under GP care.
  • Consultation index, reflecting service availability and utilization, was used as the primary measure of demand.
  • Data collected from March 1999 to February 2002.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in GP consultation demand were observed between men and women.
  • Women exhibited higher demand (7.17 consultations) compared to men (4.71 consultations).
  • Demand curves for both sexes displayed three distinct phases: initial high demand, a period of low and steady demand, and a subsequent increase.

Conclusions:

  • Patient age and sex are significant factors influencing the demand for GP consultations.
  • The findings provide valuable data for financial planning and resource management within primary healthcare settings.
  • Understanding these demand dynamics can inform policy decisions for optimizing healthcare delivery under insurance schemes.
Abstract

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