Healthcare Policy
Volume 8, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 49-66

The effect of social capital on the use of general practitioners: A comparison of immigrants and non-immigrants in Ontario (Article)

Samek D.A. , Laporte A.* , Nauenberg E. , Shen L. , Coyte P.C.
  • a Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3MS, Canada
  • b Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3MS, Canada
  • c Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3MS, Canada
  • d Department of Economics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
  • e Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3MS, Canada

Abstract

Social capital, a resource arising from the social interaction among individuals, may be a determinant of medical care use. This study explored the interaction between community- and individual-level social capital and immigrant status on the propensity and frequency of physician visits. The results showed that community social capital, as measured by the Petris Social Capital Index, was not significant in any of the analyses. However, a sense of belonging to the local community tended to decrease the number of doctor visits made by immigrants, while tangible social support increased and affection decreased the frequency of GP consultations by non-immigrants. Further research is required to determine which types of social capital affect utilization of different health services. These findings also highlight the importance of being aware of potential interactions between the formal and informal components of the healthcare system.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant social capital human middle aged health service social aspect General Practitioners general practitioner social support Cross-Sectional Studies Humans consultation male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female Article Ontario adult health care system
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865323465&partnerID=40&md5=0ac6d56a1a3619a7a6fb80e1fea5228b
ISSN: 17156572
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English