Gaceta Sanitaria
Volume 22, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 133-136

Utilization of dermatology services among the immigrant population [Análisis de la demanda asistencial en dermatología de la población inmigrante] (Article) (Open Access)

Tendero Ma.P.A. , Rincón J.M.R. , Romero I.B. , Más I.B. , Tomás N.P. , Antón R.B.
  • a Sección de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • b Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Alicante, Spain, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Camí de l'Amazara 11, 03203 Elche. Alicante, Spain
  • c Sección de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • d Sección de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • e Sección de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • f Sección de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain

Abstract

Objective: To determine the utilization rate of a dermatology service among the immigrant population and compare this rate with that among the autochthonous population. Methods: Over a 1-year period, data on all patients attended in the Dermatology Service of Health Department 19 in the autonomous community of Valencia were prospectively collected. Results: Of 39,160 consultations, 1,625 were made by immigrants (4.1%). Attendance for dermatologic emergencies was greater in immigrants than in the autochthonous population (7.7% vs 3.0%; p < 0.001), while surgical activity was lower in immigrants than in Spanish-born patients (2.6% vs 5%; p < 0.001). Demand for consultation in the immigrant population was 5.7 visits per 100 immigrants, lower than that in the autochthonous population (16.2). The standardized rate ratio was 0.34. North Africans (5.6 per 100 immigrants), East Europeans (4.8), sub-Saharan Africans (5.3) and Asians (4.2) consulted less than Latin Americans (8.5; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Demand was lower in the immigrant than in the autochthonous population, and the utilization pattern differed according to country.

Author Keywords

Autochthonous population Demand immigrants dermatology

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-42249108544&doi=10.1157%2f13119322&partnerID=40&md5=a55ecee7545c9f69cee68a165c155df2
DOI: 10.1157/13119322
ISSN: 02139111
Cited by: 7
Original Language: Spanish