2026-04-29T04:08:40Zhttps://repisalud.isciii.es/rest/oai/requestoai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/47302025-06-12T14:48:44Zcom_20.500.12105_2052com_20.500.12105_2051col_20.500.12105_19611col_20.500.12105_19613
Repisalud
author
Sanz-Barbero, Belén
author
Otero Garcia, Laura
author
Blasco-Hernandez, Teresa
author
San Sebastián, Miguel
funder
Umeå Centre for Global Health Research (Suecia)
funder
Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
2017-09-04T16:15:12Z
2017-09-04T16:15:12Z
2014-09-03
BMC Health Serv Res. 2014; 14: 368
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/4730
25187197
10.1186/1472-6963-14-368
1472-6963
BMC Health Services Research
Background: Adequate access to primary care emergency centers is particularly important in rural areas isolated from urban centers. However, variability in utilization of emergency services located in primary care centers among inhabitants of nearby geographical areas is understudied. The objectives of this study are twofold: 1) to analyze the association between the availability of municipal emergency care centers and utilization of primary care emergency centers (PCEC), in a Spanish region with high population dispersion; and 2) to determine healthcare providers' perceptions regarding PCEC utilization. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted. Quantitative phase: multilevel logistic regression modeling using merged data from the 2003 Regional Health Survey of Castile and Leon and the 2001 census data (Spain). Qualitative phase:14 in-depth- interviews of rural-based PCEC providers. Results: Having PCEC as the only emergency center in the municipality was directly associated with its utilization (p < 0.001). Healthcare providers perceived that distance to hospital increased PCEC utilization, and distance to PCEC decrease its use. PCEC users were considered to be predominantly workers and students with scheduling conflicts with rural primary care opening hours. Conclusions: The location of emergency care centers is associated with PCEC utilization. Increasing access to primary care by extending hours may be an important step toward optimal PCEC utilization. Further research would determine whether lower PCEC use by certain groups is associated with disparities in access to care.
eng
Primary care emergency center
Health services utilization
Mixed-methods approach, Spain
Factors associated with the utilization of primary care emergency centers in a Spanish region with high population dispersion: a mixed-methods study
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12913_2013_Article_3469.pdf.txt
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