The impact of the increase in user fees on the demand for primary health care in the parque family health unit

Authors

  • António Ramos Licenciado em Medicina Veterinária pela Universidade de Évora. Mestre em Patologia Experimental pela Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra. Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Catarina Rúbio Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Diogo Rodrigues Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Gonçalo Nunes Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Joana Bettencourt Aluno do 5º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Samuel Ângelo Licenciado em Medicina Dentária pela Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade de Lisboa. Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Sónia Coelho Aluno do 6º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Vasco Maria Professor Auxiliar da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva. Regente da Disciplina de Medicina Geral e Familiar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v29i2.11056

Keywords:

User Fees, Accessibility, Primary Health Care

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the impact of the increase in user fees on the demand for primary health care in the Parque Family Health Unit, to compare consultation rates in the Parque FHU between January 1and May 31, 2011, and the same period in 2012, and to identify factors associated with patient demand for care in this unit. Design: Retrospective longitudinal, observational and analytical. Setting: Parque Family Health Unit, North Lisbon Health Centres Group (ACES Lisboa Norte) Population: Patients of the Parque Family Health Unit. Methods: A convenience sample of patients was selected from the health records of the Family Health Unit. The Student's t-test, Anova, Pearson correlation and Spearman correlation were used with statistical significance set at the 5% level. Results: We analyzed the records of 338 patients. The majority were female (n = 241; 71,3%), with a mean age of 57 years (standard deviation = 18,92). There was an increase in the consultation rate from 2011 to 2012. The mean number of visits was 0.87 (IC95% 0.623-1.129, p >= 0.01). Older patients, patients with more illnesses, and those taking daily medication had higher visiting rates (p >= 0.05). There were fewer visits made by patients with a higher monthly income (p >= 0.05). A positive correlation between the number of illnesses and the number of medical visits was observed in patients exempt from user fees. Conclusions: In 2012 the number of visits to the Health Unit increased. Advanced age, a larger number of illnesses and daily medication use were associated with a greater number of visits. Higher economic status was associated with lower visiting rates in both study periods. The increase in user fees did not have a negative impact on patient demand for primary health care in the Parque Family Health Unit.

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Published

2013-03-01

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 2 (2013): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

License

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How to Cite

The impact of the increase in user fees on the demand for primary health care in the parque family health unit. (2013). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 29(2), 90-6. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v29i2.11056

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