Why does healthcare utilisation differ between socioeconomic groups in OECD countries with universal healthcare coverage? A protocol for a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Even in advanced economies with universal healthcare coverage (UHC), a social gradient in healthcare utilisation has been reported. Many individual, community and healthcare system factors have been considered that may be associated with the variation in healthcare utilisation between socioeconomic groups. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the complex interaction and relative contribution of these factors to socioeconomic differences in healthcare utilisation. In order to improve understanding of why utilisation patterns differ by socioeconomic status (SES), the proposed systematic review will explore the main mechanisms that have been examined in quantitative research.

Methods and analysis

The systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting I

SUBMITTER: Meulman I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8611423 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature