Impact of New Services on Unscheduled Care in England
Author Information
Author(s): O'Cathain Alicia, Knowles Emma, Munro James, Nicholl Jon
Primary Institution: University of Sheffield
Hypothesis
How do changes in service provision affect the use of unscheduled care in England?
Conclusion
Introducing new services to the provision of unscheduled care did not affect the use of traditional services.
Supporting Evidence
- 16% of respondents reported an unscheduled episode in the previous four weeks.
- Telephone help lines saw increased usage over the five years.
- Most respondents sought help from GPs, family, and friends.
Takeaway
The study looked at how new health services changed the way people get urgent care, and found that most people still go to their regular doctor.
Methodology
Cross-sectional population postal surveys conducted annually from 1998 to 2002 in two geographical areas in England.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to higher response rates from those who recently used services.
Limitations
The study lacked control areas and relied on self-reported data, which may not accurately reflect the entire population's use of services.
Participant Demographics
The sample included a mix of ages and socio-economic statuses, with a notable decrease in young adult respondents over time.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.170
Confidence Interval
95% CI (15.9 to 16.1)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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