The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of primary care visits for substance use among patients in Ontario, Canada.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the prevalence of substance use presentations. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of primary care visits for substance use including tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use among primary care patients in Ontario, Canada. Diagnostic and service fee code data were collected from a longitudinal cohort of family medicine patients during pre-pandemic (March 14, 2019-March 13, 2020) and pandemic periods (March 14, 2020-March 13, 2021). Generalized linear models were used to compare the rate of substance-use related visits pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. The effects of demographic characteristics including age, sex, and income quintile were also assessed. Relative to the pre-pandemic period, patients were le

SUBMITTER: Siu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10734921 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature