Regional variation of avoidable hospitalisations in a universal health care system: a register-based cohort study from Finland 1996-2013.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

A persistent finding in research concerning healthcare and hospital use in Western countries has been regional variation in the medical practices. The aim of the current study was to examine trends in the regional variation of avoidable hospitalisations, that is, hospitalisations due to conditions treatable in ambulatory care in Finland in 1996-2013 and the influence of different healthcare levels on them.

Setting

Use of hospital inpatient care in 1996-2013 among the total population in Finland.

Participants

Altogether 1 931 012 hospital inpatient care episodes among all persons residing in Finland identified from administrative registers in Finland in 1996-2013 and alive in 1 January 1996.

Outcome measures

We examined hospitalisations due to avoidab

SUBMITTER: Manderbacka K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6661699 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature