Factors Affecting Emergency Department Visits in Ontario
Author Information
Author(s): Moineddin Rahim, Meaney Christopher, Agha Mohammad, Zagorski Brandon, Glazier Richard Henry
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
What factors influence the demand for emergency department services in Ontario?
Conclusion
Access to a primary care physician significantly reduces the likelihood and rate of emergency department visits for low severity cases.
Supporting Evidence
- Access to a primary care physician reduced the odds of emergency department visits by approximately 31%.
- Having a family doctor lowered the rate of emergency department visits by about 43% for low severity cases.
- Participants with higher resource utilization bands had increased emergency department visits.
- Demographics such as age, income, and education level influenced emergency department utilization rates.
Takeaway
This study found that having a family doctor can help people avoid going to the emergency room for less serious issues, which is good for both patients and hospitals.
Methodology
The study used multiple regression models to analyze data from the Canadian Community Health Survey linked with emergency department visit records.
Limitations
The study did not consider contextual factors like proximity to clinics or the number of primary care providers in the area.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mostly young-middle aged adults (20-64 years), with a balanced gender distribution and predominantly urban living conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.69
Confidence Interval
0.63-0.75
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website