ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Different conditions in health services utilization may create situations of inequity. The objective was analyze the differences of nurse consultation utilization in primary care. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, in 23 health centres in Madrid. Environmental variables, consultation characteristics, socio-demographic and health need characteristics were collected. The quality of life and satisfaction were also studied. The variables were classified according to the "behavioral model" in predisposing, enabling or need variables. Explanatory multivariate models were constructed (Generalized-Estimating-Equations). RESULTS: The higher income areas and aging, predisposing factors, were associated with increases of 17% (95% CI: 0.4 to 36.9%) and 11.0% per decade (95% CI: 6.2 - 16.2) in nursing consultations per year. Among enabling factors, each additional minute of consultation length was associated with an increase of 2.0% (95% CI :1.2-2, 9%) in number of nurse consultations, each new medical consultation was associated with a increase of 2.7% (95% CI: 2.1-3.2%) and the delay in getting appointment over a day, represented a decrease of 32.8% (95% CI: 19.3 to 44.1%) in the total nursing consultations. Each chronic condition, which expresses the need health, was associated with an increase in the number of visits of 4.8% (95% CI: 1.7 to 8.0%). The improved perception of quality of life was associated with a reduction of 5.4% (95% CI 1.0 to 8.7%) of the consultations. CONCLUSION: The difference of the use of primary care nurse consultations is based on health need criteria, but is also influenced by accessibility conditions.
Subject(s)
Health Services Needs and Demand/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Nurses'/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Quality of Life , Socioeconomic Factors , SpainABSTRACT
Fundamentos: Diferentes condiciones de utilización de servicios sanitarios pueden originar situaciones de falta de equidad. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer si existen diferencias en el uso de la consulta de enfermería en atención primaria. Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico transversal en 23 centros de salud de la Comunidad de Madrid. Se incluyó a 662 sujetos. Se recogieron variables relativas al centro de salud, de la consulta de enfermería, características sociodemograficas y de necesidad en salud. Se estudiaron la calidad de vida y la satisfacción de los sujetos. Las variables se clasificaron, según el modelo «conductual», en predisponentes, facilitadoras o de necesidad. Se construyeron modelos multivariantes explicativos. Resultados: Vivir en zonas de renta alta y la edad se asociaron con aumentos del 17% (IC95%: 0,4-36,9%) y del 11,0% por cada década (IC95%: 6,2-16,2) de las consultas/año de enfermería. De los factores facilitadores, cada minuto añadido de duración de la consulta se asoció con un aumento del 2,0% (IC95%: 1,2-2,9%) en las consultas/año, cada nueva consulta médica se asociaba con un aumento del 2,7% (IC95%: 2,1-3,2%) y la demora en conseguir cita superior a un día supuso una disminución del 32,8% (IC95%: 19,3-44,1%) del número de consultas. Cada condición crónica, que expresa necesidad en salud, se asoció con un incremento del número de consultas del 4,8% (IC 95%: 1,7-8,0%). La mejor percepción de la calidad de vida se asoció con una reducción de las consultas de un 5,4% (IC95%: 1,0-8,7%). Conclusión: Las diferencias en el uso de la consulta de enfermería responde a criterios de necesidad, pero también está influenciada por condiciones de accesibilidad(AU)
Background: Different conditions in health services utilization may create situations of inequity. The objective was analyze the differences of nurse consultation utilization in primary care. Methods: Cross-sectional study, in 23 health centres in Madrid. Environmental variables, consultation characteristics, socio-demographic and health need characteristics were collected. The quality of life and satisfaction were also studied. The variables were classified according to the «behavioral model» in predisposing, enabling or need variables. Explanatory multivariate models were constructed (Generalized-Estimating-Equations). Results: The higher income areas and aging, predisposing factors, were associated with increases of 17% (95% CI: 0.4 to 36.9%) and 11.0% per decade (95% CI: 6.2 - 16.2) in nursing consultations per year. Among enabling factors, each additional minute of consultation length was associated with an increase of 2.0% (95% CI :1.2-2, 9%) in number of nurse consultations, each new medical consultation was associated with a increase of 2.7% (95% CI: 2.1-3.2%) and the delay in getting appointment over a day, represented a decrease of 32.8% (95% CI: 19.3 to 44.1%) in the total nursing consultations. Each chronic condition, which expresses the need health, was associated with an increase in the number of visits of 4.8% (95% CI: 1.7 to 8.0%). The improved perception of quality of life was associated with a reduction of 5.4% (95% CI 1.0 to 8.7%) of the consultations. Conclusion: The difference of the use of primary care nurse consultations is based on health need criteria, but is also influenced by accessibility conditions(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Office Nursing/organization & administration , Office Nursing/standards , Office Nursing , Ethics Consultation/organization & administration , Ethics Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Primary Health Care/methods , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Community Participation/psychology , Community Participation , Health Services Needs and Demand/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Services Needs and Demand/organization & administration , Health Services Needs and DemandABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Identifying the economic value assigned by users to a particular health service is of principal interest in planning the service. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of economic value of nursing consultation in primary care (PC) by its users. METHODS AND RESULTS: Economic study using contingent valuation methodology. A total of 662 users of nursing consultation from 23 health centers were included. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health needs, pattern of usage, and satisfaction with provided service were compiled. The validity of the response was evaluated by an explanatory mixed-effects multilevel model in order to assess the factors associated with the response according to the welfare theory. Response reliability was also evaluated. Subjects included in the study indicated an average Willingness to Pay (WTP) of 14.4 (CI 95%: 13.2-15.5; median 10) and an average Willingness to Accept [Compensation] (WTA) of 20.9 (CI 95%: 19.6-22.2; median 20). Average area income, personal income, consultation duration, home visit, and education level correlated with greater WTP. Women and older subjects showed lower WTP. Fixed parameters explained 8.41% of the residual variability, and response clustering in different health centers explained 4-6% of the total variability. The influence of income on WTP was different in each center. The responses for WTP and WTA in a subgroup of subjects were consistent when reassessed after 2 weeks (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.952 and 0.893, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The economic value of nursing services provided within PC in a public health system is clearly perceived by its user. The perception of this value is influenced by socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the subjects and their environment, and by the unique characteristics of the evaluated service. The method of contingent valuation is useful for making explicit this perception of value of health services.
Subject(s)
Primary Health Care/economics , Public Health/economics , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Statistical , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Patient Satisfaction , Primary Care Nursing/economics , Referral and Consultation/economics , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The identification of the attribution of economic value that users of a health system assign to a health service could be useful in planning these services. The method of contingent valuation can provide information about the user's perception of value in monetary terms, and therefore comparable between services of a very different nature. This study attempts to extract the economic value that the subject, user of primary care nursing services in a public health system, attributes to this service by the method of contingent valuation, based on the perspectives of Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Willingness to Accept [Compensation] (WTA). METHODS/DESIGN: This is an economic study with a transversal design. The contingent valuation method will be used to estimate the user's willingness to pay (WTP) for the care received from the primary care nurse and the willingness to accept [compensation] (WTA), were this service eliminated. A survey that meets the requisites of the contingent valuation method will be constructed and pilot-tested. Subsequently, 600 interviews will be performed with subjects chosen by systematic randomized sampling from among those who visit nursing at twenty health centers with different socioeconomic characteristics in the Community of Madrid. The characteristics of the subject and of the care received that can explain the variations in WTP, WTA and in the WTP/WTA ratio expressed will be studied. A theoretical validation of contingent valuation will be performed constructing two explanatory multivariate mixed models in which the dependent variable will be WTP, and the WTP/WTA relationship, respectively. DISCUSSION: The identification of the attribution of economic value to a health service that does not have a direct price at the time of use, such as a visit to primary care nursing, and the definition of a profile of "loss aversion" in reference to the service evaluated, can be relevant elements in planning, enabling incorporating patient preferences to health policy decision-making.
