Assessing the impact of attachment to primary care and unattachment duration on healthcare utilization and cost in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study using health administrative data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Insufficient access to primary care remains a major public health issue in Ontario, Canada, particularly for unattached residents (i.e., those who are not formally enrolled with a primary care provider, usually a family physician or occasionally a nurse practitioner). This study evaluates healthcare utilization and costs among unattached individuals, focusing on the impact of unattachment duration.

Methods

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using health administrative data, comparing provincially insured residents who maintained a consistent attachment status over the 12-month period (April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022) to those who were unattached. We employed multivariable regression analyses to examine the associations between attachment s

SUBMITTER: Fitzsimon J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11912707 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature