Dataset Information

Primary care in Germany: access and utilisation-a cross-sectional study with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

(1) To describe the accessibility of general practitioners (GPs) by the German population; (2) to determine factors on individual and area level, such as settlement structure and area deprivation, which are associated with the walking distance to a GP; and (3) to identify factors that may cause differences in the utilisation of any doctors.

Design

Cross-sectional study using individual survey data from the representative German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) linked with area deprivation data from the German Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2010 (GIMD 2010) and official data for settlement structure (urban/rural areas) at district level. Logistic regression models were estimated to determine the relationship of individual and area factors with the distance to a GP. Negative binomial regressions were used to analyse the association with utilisation.

Setting

Germany.

Population

n=20?601 respondents from the SOEP survey data 2009.

Primary outcome measure

Walking distance to a GP.

Secondary outcome measure

Doctor visits.

Results

Nearly 70% of the sample lives within a 20?min walk to a GP. People living in the most deprived areas have a 1.4-fold (95%?CI 1.3 to 1.6) increased probability of a greater walking distance compared with the least deprived quintile, even after controlling for settlement structure and individual factors. In rural districts, people have a 3.1-fold (95%?CI 2.8 to 3.4) higher probability of a greater walking distance compared with those in cities. Both area deprivation and rurality have a negative relationship with the utilisation of physicians, whereas the distance to a GP is not associated with the utilisation of physicians.

Conclusion

Walking distance to a GP depends on individual and area factors. In Germany, area deprivation is negatively correlated with the accessibility of GPs while controlling for settlement structure and individual factors. Both area factors are negatively associated with the utilisation of doctors. This knowledge could be used for future GP requirement plans.

SUBMITTER: Greiner GG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6224727 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Primary care in Germany: access and utilisation-a cross-sectional study with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

Greiner Gregory Gordon GG Schwettmann Lars L Goebel Jan J Maier Werner W

BMJ open 20181023 10

<h4>Objectives</h4>(1) To describe the accessibility of general practitioners (GPs) by the German population; (2) to determine factors on individual and area level, such as settlement structure and area deprivation, which are associated with the walking distance to a GP; and (3) to identify factors that may cause differences in the utilisation of any doctors.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional study using individual survey data from the representative German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) linked with ar ...[more]

PMID: 30355791

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Dataset Information

Primary care in Germany: access and utilisation-a cross-sectional study with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

Objectives

Design

Setting

Population

Primary outcome measure

Secondary outcome measure

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Primary care in Germany: access and utilisation-a cross-sectional study with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

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