[Health services' utilization patterns in Catalonia, Spain].

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Understanding healthcare service utilization is crucial for effective resource allocation and policy development.
• Patterns of care access can vary significantly based on demographic, socioeconomic, and individual factors.
• Catalonia provides a specific regional context to examine these diverse utilization trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze service utilization patterns (primary, specialized, hospital, emergency care) in the Catalan population.
• To identify key demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors associated with healthcare use.
• To conduct separate analyses for different population subgroups (e.g., by sex, age).

Main Methods:

• Logistic regression models were employed to analyze service utilization.
• Data included self-perceived need, lifestyle factors, and sociodemographic variables.
• Analyses were stratified by sex, age groups (children, adults), and the general population.

Main Results:

• Women utilized all healthcare services more frequently than men.
• Children and individuals over 64 were more frequent primary care users; this care was linked to lower socioeconomic status.
• Young adults and migrants underutilized services, except emergency care, while specialized care access was higher among the affluent and educated.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare service use in Catalonia is driven by a combination of perceived need, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
• Targeted interventions may be needed to address underutilization among specific groups like young adults and migrants.
• The findings highlight disparities in access and utilization across different healthcare services and population segments.