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Urban-rural health differences: primary care data and self reported data render different results
Madelon Kroneman1, Robert Verheij, Margot Tacken
1NIVEL, Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research, P.O. Box 1568, 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.kroneman@nivel.nl
Health & Place
|May 25, 2010
Summary
General practice electronic medical records can monitor rural health, but findings differ from health interview surveys. These records offer a cost-effective method for tracking population health trends.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Rural Health
Background:
- Electronic medical records (EMRs) in general practice (GP) are a potential data source for population health assessment.
- Rural populations present unique health challenges and require specific monitoring strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of GP EMRs for assessing rural population health.
- To compare EMR data with health interview survey (HIS) data for rural health assessment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized routinely recorded EMR data from general practices between 2000-2002.
- Collected self-reported health data via questionnaires from a subset of the same patient population.
Main Results:
- GP records indicated higher rates of acute somatic and chronic diseases in rural areas.
- Self-reported health data suggested better perceived health in rural populations.
Conclusions:
- GP EMRs are a viable, cost-effective tool for monitoring rural health.
- Discrepancies between EMR and HIS data highlight potential differences in healthcare access and help-seeking behaviors in rural versus urban settings.
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