Socioeconomic inequalities in primary-care and specialist physician visits: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Utilization of primary-care and specialist physicians seems to be associated differently with socioeconomic status (SES). This review aims to summarize and compare the evidence on socioeconomic inequalities in consulting primary-care or specialist physicians in the general adult population in high-income countries.

Methods

We carried out a systematic search across the most relevant databases (Web of Science, Medline) and included all studies, published since 2004, reporting associations between SES and utilization of primary-care and/or specialist physicians. In total, 57 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

Results

Many studies found socioeconomic inequalities in physician utilization, but inequalities were more pronounced in visiting specialists th

SUBMITTER: Lueckmann SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7874661 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature