Geographical variation in musculoskeletal surgical care in public hospitals in Ireland: a repeated cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the extent of geographical variation across musculoskeletal surgical procedures and associated factors in Ireland.

Design

Repeated cross-sectional study.

Setting

36 public hospitals in Ireland.

Participants

Adult admissions for hip fracture, hip and knee replacement, knee arthroscopy and lumbar spine interventions over 5 years (2012-2016).

Primary outcome measure

Standardised discharge rate (SDR).

Analysis

Age and sex SDRs were calculated for 21 geographical areas. Extremal quotients, coefficients of variation and systematic components of variance were calculated. Linear regression analyses were conducted exploring the relationship between SDRs and year, unemployment, % urban population, number of referral hospitals, % on wait

SUBMITTER: Walsh ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6549729 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature