Impact of Socio-demographic Characteristics on Time in Outpatient Cardiology Clinics: A Retrospective Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Inequitable access to health services influences health outcomes. Some studies have found patients of lower socio-economic status (SES) wait longer for surgery, but little data exist on access to outpatient services. This study analyzed patient-level data from outpatient public cardiology clinics and assessed whether low SES patients spend longer accessing ambulatory services. Retrospective analysis of cardiology clinic encounters across 3 public hospitals between 2014 and 2019 was undertaken. Data were linked to age, gender, Indigenous status, country of birth, language spoken at home, number of comorbidities, and postcode. A cox proportional hazards model was applied adjusting for visit type (new/follow up), clinic, and referral source. Higher hazard ratio (HR) indicates shorter clinic t

SUBMITTER: McIntyre D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10021097 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature