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Table 1 Population characteristics and barriers to access: average percentage and range across countries

From: Factors associated with multiple barriers to access to primary care: an international analysis

 

Country average (%)

Range

Australia

Canada

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

Germany

Netherlands

France

Norway

Sweden

Switzerland

Independent variables - population characteristics

Age

65 years and over

21

(17, 25)

17

19

19

22

19

25

22

25

21

25

22

Sex

Female

51

(50, 53)

50

52

53

51

52

51

51

52

50

50

51

Income

Below-average

38

(24, 50)

40

39

31

29

40

38

24

47

41

38

50

Chronic conditions

Mental health condition(s) w/wo physical

13

(4, 23)

13

20

13

11

23

9

8

4

16

20

13

Physical health condition(s)

35

(29, 39)

29

39

34

31

39

32

32

36

39

37

35

Immigrant status

Not born in the country

17

(70, 93)

23

18

19

12

15

17

8

21

7

14

30

Hospitalization

Hospitalized overnight

18

(14, 30)

16

14

17

16

17

14

18

30

20

18

23

Dependent variables - Barriers to access to PC

Before reaching PC

No doctor

15

(1, 58)

14

15

11

19

23

2

1

1

5

58

15

aHave a regular place of care

95

(92, 100)

94

93

96

94

88

99

100

99

98

92

90

After-hours access very difficult

24

(6, 42)

17

37

14

25

28

35

6

17

17

42

22

Over five days to get appointment

18

(4, 31)

8

31

4

18

22

27

6

18

27

27

10

No timely response to call

19

(12, 33)

14

33

17

21

28

13

13

14

22

24

12

Skipped test or medication due to cost

11

(4, 28)

11

14

11

4

28

7

7

13

6

8

17

Skipped GP consult due to cost

9

(3, 22)

9

6

14

4

22

3

3

9

5

4

20

Any barrier before reaching PC

53

(25, 80)

42

68

40

52

67

66

25

47

48

80

50

After reaching PC

Care not coordinated

28

(18, 40)

19

22

19

24

28

40

25

37

34

40

18

GP did not spend enough time

16

(6, 26)

8

20

12

15

19

14

6

16

21

26

13

Medical history not known

16

(4, 29)

14

15

13

12

17

11

4

24

19

29

17

Unclear explanations

12

(4, 27)

7

11

11

10

10

16

4

27

16

17

9

Any barrier after reaching PC

38

(24, 58)

29

37

29

32

39

47

24

58

42

48

33

Multiple barriers

Two or more barriers before reaching PC

21

(6, 38)

15

33

17

18

38

15

6

18

17

36

19

Two or more barriers after reaching PC

16

(5, 30)

10

17

13

14

18

16

5

30

20

24

12

  1. aNote: All questions grouped regarding care after reaching PC were asked of people with a regular GP or place, therefore up to 8% of respondents across countries were excluded from answering the after reaching PC questions