The utilization of health services. Sequence of visits to general practitioners

Multivariate studies of health services utilization have been particularly disappointing. Some of the difficulties might be within the conceptualization of the utilization concept. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that propensity to utilize should be expressed in time sequences and that an explanation should be sought for such sequences, rather than for the total number of times physicians are consulted. Using data from the universal health insurance scheme in Québec, the concept of sequence of visits is illustrated, while variations in utilization patterns are better explained by the sequences of utilization than by age and sex.