Resumen

OTERINO DE LA FUENTE, David et al. Hospital and primary care emergency services in Asturias (Spain): variations among health areas and trends between 1994-2001. Gac Sanit [online]. 2007, vol.21, n.4, pp.316-320. ISSN 0213-9111.

Objective: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability. Methods: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics. Results: Almost 6.5 million of emergencies (hospitals: 43.8%) were attended in Asturias from 1994 to 2001. The average annual growth was 6.2% (primary care: 7.8%; hospitals: 5.1%) with differences among districts. Primary care variability was higher (variation coefficient: 0.38 and 0.27 in 1994 and 2001) than hospital variability (variation coefficient: 0.14 and 0.11) and it decreased in the period. Conclusions: Emergency Health Services utilization growth between 1994 and 2001, with strong variability among health districts.

Palabras clave : Hospital emergencies; Primary care emergencies; Variability; Small area analysis.

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