Utilization of health services in a defined Swedish population

With the aid of a data registration system and person-specific information, utilization behaviour has been studied in a defined Swedish population. Information from three registers was linked together in order to produce the current results: a medical information system in primary care, a population register, and a register of property. The higher health care consumption for females is shown to occur independently of diagnosis, even if diseases of the genitourinary system, psychoneurosis and rheumatoid arthritis were more common among females. The consultation rate was inversely related to the distance to the surgery from the patient's residence. There was less demand for primary health care during the summer months, July and August. For the rest of the year there were no differences.