Do changes in primary care service use over time differ by neighbourhood income? Population-based longitudinal study in British Columbia, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Strong primary care systems have been associated with improved health equity. Primary care system reforms in Canada may have had equity implications, but these have not been evaluated. We sought to determine if changes in primary care service use between 1999/2000 and 2017/2018 differ by neighbourhood income in British Columbia.

Methods

We used linked administrative databases to track annual primary care visits, continuity of care, emergency department (ED) visits, specialist referrals, and prescriptions dispensed over time. We use generalized estimating equations to examine differences in the magnitude of change by neighbourhood income quintile, adjusting for age, sex/gender, and comorbidity, and stratified by urban/rural location of residence. We also compared t

SUBMITTER: Lavergne MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9175477 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature