Elias Ronca|Anke Scheel?Sailer|Hans Georg Koch|Armin Gemperli
Health care utilization in persons with spinal cord injury: part 2—determinants, geographic variation and comparison with the general population
University of Lucerne|Swiss Paraplegic Research|Swiss Paraplegic Research|University of Lucerne
crosssectional survey investigate annual rates geographic variation health care utilization persons spinal cord injury sci identify factors associated health care utilization community setting entire country switzerland annual rates planned emergency visits general practitioner gp planned emergency outpatient clinic visits inpatient hospitalizations compared individuals chronic sci 16 years age residing switzerland late 2011 early 2013 population sample 2012 swiss general population risk factors increased health service utilization identified means regression models adjusted spatial variation 492 participants 862 response rate 941 visited health care provider preceding year persons visiting gps 884 followed outpatient clinics 531 inpatient hospitals 359 increase utilization compared general population 13 40 29fold gp outpatient clinic inpatient hospital visit respectively gp utilization highest persons low income incidence rate ratio irr 185 old age irr 262 first 2 years post injury health service visits 17 gp visits 58 times emergency outpatient clinic visits likely compared later post injury people sci frequently use health services compared general population across types medical service institutions gp services used often areas availability specialized outpatient clinic services low