Use of Out of Hours Medical Services in Krakow, Poland
Author Information
Author(s): Margas Grzegorz, Windak Adam, Tomasik Tomasz
Primary Institution: Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Poland
Hypothesis
The study aims to analyze seasonal and geographical variation in out of hours care use and to find the most important factors influencing it.
Conclusion
Non-medical factors significantly influence patients' decisions to seek out of hours care, suggesting a need for system efficiency improvements.
Supporting Evidence
- The study recorded 238,072 contacts over two years, with varying rates of visits based on age and distance to clinics.
- Ambulatory visits were highest among children aged 0-4 and lowest among adults aged 45-49.
- Home visits were most frequent among patients over 85 years old.
Takeaway
This study looked at how often people in Krakow use medical services when their regular doctors are closed, and found that where you live and the time of year can really change how often people go.
Methodology
The study used routinely collected data over 24 months (2003-2004) to analyze types and rates of out of hours medical contacts.
Potential Biases
The method of calculating distance to clinics may introduce bias due to inaccuracies in patient addresses.
Limitations
The study is based on data from one city and may not reflect the situation in other regions, especially rural areas.
Participant Demographics
The population covered was approximately 420,000, with a significant portion being students and working-age individuals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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