Why non-urgent patients choose emergency over primary care services? Empirical evidence and managerial implications

Federico Lega and Alessandro Mengoni

Health Policy, 2008, vol. 88, issue 2-3, 326-338

Abstract: Objective To investigate structural and psychological factors that lead non-urgent patients to choose the Accidents & Emergency Department (A&ED) rather than primary care services.Data sources Data were collected through interviews by means of a structured questionnaire. Data regarding the A&ED sample were also drawn from the database of the department.Study design Hypotheses were tested in a survey comparing A&ED non-urgent patients and patients using GP surgeries. Different perceptions of the characteristics of A&ED and primary care services were measured and a perceptual map was created using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA).Data collection Emergency services users were interviewed in the A&ED of the General Hospital of the Province of Macerata (Italy). Primary care users were interviewed in four GP surgeries. 527 patients were interviewed between December 2006 and February 2007.Principal findings A&ED and primary care patients look for different characteristics as diagnostic and therapeutic potentialities, empathy and competence, quick access or long-lasting relationship. Information asymmetry explains part of the behaviour.Conclusions Use of A&ED services for non-urgent care can be reduced. The understanding of reasons underlying the choice and a change in access, timing and contents of care/services provided by general practitioners (GPs) might provide incentives for shifting from A&ED to GPs surgeries.

Keywords: Health; care; services; Organization; Primary; care; Emergency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:88:y:2008:i:2-3:p:326-338

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