Frequent outpatient attendance among people on the governmental welfare programme in Japan: assessing both patient and supplier characteristics.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Using linkage data from two municipal public assistance databases and medical assistance claim data, this study aimed to identify characteristics associated with frequent outpatient attendance by people on public assistance, who can access medical care services without copayment in Japan, with simultaneous consideration of supplier factors.

Design

We performed a retrospective cohort study.

Setting

We used secondary data from the public assistance databases of two suburban municipalities in Japan.

Participants

The study population included all adults on public assistance in January 2016, who were observed until December 2016. A total of 6016 people was included in the analysis. Among them, 2956 (49.1%) were men, and 2030 (33.7%) were living alone.

SUBMITTER: Nishioka D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7574951 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature