Examining differences in out-of-hours primary care use in Belgium and the Netherlands: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The organizational model of out-of-hours primary care is likely to affect healthcare use. We aimed to examine differences in the use of general practitioner cooperatives for out-of-hours care in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders) and explore if these are related to organizational differences.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study using routine electronic health record data of the year 2016 from 77 general practitioner cooperatives in the Netherlands and 5 general practitioner cooperatives in Belgium (Flanders). Patient age, gender and health problem were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

The number of consultations per 1000 residents was 2.3 times higher in the Netherlands than in Belgium. Excluding telephone consultations, which ar

SUBMITTER: Smits M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6896980 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature