Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Volume 32, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 232-240

Frequent attenders in general practice and immigrant status in Norway: A nationwide cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Diaz E.* , Gimeno-Feliu L.-A. , Calderón-Larrañaga A. , Prados-Torres A.
  • a Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, Bergen, 5018, Norway, Norwegian Centre for Minority Health Research, Norway
  • b EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Spain, San Pablo Health Centre, Zaragoza, Spain, University of Zaragoza, Spain
  • c EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Spain, University of Zaragoza, Spain, Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
  • d EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Spain, University of Zaragoza, Spain, Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

To compare the likelihood of being a frequent attender (FA) to general practice among native Norwegians and immigrants, and to study socioeconomic and morbidity factors associated with being a FA for natives and immigrants. Design, setting and subjects. Linked register data for all inhabitants in Norway with at least one visit to the general practitioner (GP) in 2008 (2 967 933 persons). Immigrants were grouped according to their country of origin into low- (LIC), middle- (MIC), and high-income countries (HIC). FAs were defined as patients whose attendance rate ranked in the top 10% (cut-off point > 7 visits). Main outcome measures. FAs were compared with other GP users by means of multivariate binary logistic analyses adjusting for socioeconomic and morbidity factors. Results. Among GP users during the daytime, immigrants had a higher likelihood of being a FA compared with natives (OR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.09-1.17) and 1.15 (1.12-1.18) for HIC, 1.84 (1.78-1.89) and 1.66 (1.63-1.70) for MIC, and 1.77 (1.67-1.89) and 1.65 (1.57-1.74) for LIC for men and women respectively). Pregnancy, middle income earned in Norway, and having cardiologic and psychiatric problems were the main factors associated with being a FA. Among immigrants, labour immigrants and the elderly used GPs less often, while refugees were overrepresented among FAs. Psychiatric, gastroenterological, endocrine, and non-specific drug morbidity were relatively more prevalent among immigrant FA compared with natives. Conclusion. Although immigrants account for a small percentage of all FAs, GPs and policy-makers should be aware of differences in socioeconomic and morbidity profiles to provide equality of health care. © 2014 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

emigrants and immigrants Primary health care Registries Norway Health care research Socioeconomic factors General practice morbidity

Index Keywords

general practice Norway human epidemiology trends middle aged Cohort Studies statistics and numerical data health service Aged morbidity Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child Aged, 80 and over Infant very elderly Child, Preschool newborn female pregnancy Incidence adult utilization cohort analysis Health Services Misuse primary health care Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84917695879&doi=10.3109%2f02813432.2014.982368&partnerID=40&md5=2eb821652f5f261e617a150aa07c06d9
DOI: 10.3109/02813432.2014.982368
ISSN: 02813432
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English