Table 1 Patient and practice characteristics of patients with a referral to medical specialist care, 2008–2010, 48,784 referrals
Patient characteristics | |
Gender (% female) | 58.7 % |
Age | |
0–17 year | 12.2 % |
18–24 year | 5.2 % |
25–44 year | 24.1 % |
45–64 year | 33.6 % |
65–74 year | 13.3 % |
75 years or older | 11.7 % |
Chronic diseases | |
No chronic disease | 50.7 % |
1 chronic disease | 29.8 % |
2 chronic diseases | 12.3 % |
3 or more chronic diseases | 7.1 % |
Distance to nearest medical care facility (km) | 3 (1–11) |
Living in deprived urban area | 9.3 % |
Social status of the neighbourhood | |
Quartile 1: -5.9 - -0.9 | 22.8 % |
Quartile 2: -0.9 - -0.2 | 27.9 % |
Quartile 3: -0.2 - 0.62 | 23.1 % |
Quartile 4: 0.62 - 2.86 | 26.3 % |
Practice characteristics (per year) | |
Practice type | |
Single-handed practice | 25.6 % |
Duo practice | 20,0 % |
Group practice or health centre | 54,4 % |
Face-to-face contacts with GP | 2.63 (0.37) |
Guideline adherence referrals | 90.0 (4.3) |
Primary care nurse | 86.7 % |