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Do ethnic groups use health services like the majority of the population? A study from Quebec, Canada

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  • Blais, Régis
  • Maïga, Aboubacrine

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of medical services over a period of one year by members of ethnic groups and native Quebecers in Canada, while controlling for a number of confounding factors. The objective was to determine whether the two groups made the same number of medical visits to the same sites (private offices, outpatient clinic and emergency room and hospital inpatient care) and the same types of physicians (general practitioners, specialists). Two sources of data were used. The first was the Quebec Health Survey conducted in 1987 on a representative sample of 31,995 noninstitutionalized persons. Through personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires, data were collected on the demographic characteristics and health status of the respondents. The second source of data was the Quebec physician claims database, which contains a complete registry of services paid to physicians on a fee for service basis in the 12 months prior to the survey. The two databases were linked at the individual level (success rate is 88%). Members of ethnic groups aged 15 years and older were then individually matched to native Quebecers having the same six characteristics (age, gender, household income, access to health care facilities, perceived health and overall health). Final sample size was 1182 (divided equally into the two study groups). Results showed that neither the average number of medical services used over a year by the two groups nor the number of users differed. However, ethnic groups made more visits to specialists in private offices. Although not definite, possible explanations of these results are discussed. It is concluded that health care professionals should be sensitive to the particular needs of ethnic groups in order to provide them with accessible and appropriate services.

Suggested Citation

  • Blais, Régis & Maïga, Aboubacrine, 1999. "Do ethnic groups use health services like the majority of the population? A study from Quebec, Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1237-1245, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:48:y:1999:i:9:p:1237-1245
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lindstrom, Martin & Axen, Elin & Lindstrom, Christine & Beckman, Anders & Moghaddassi, Mahnaz & Merlo, Juan, 2006. "Social capital and administrative contextual determinants of lack of access to a regular doctor: A multilevel analysis in southern Sweden," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(2-3), pages 153-164, December.
    2. Björn Albin & Katarina Hjelm & Jan Ekberg & Sölve Elmståhl, 2012. "Utilization of In-Hospital Care among Foreign-Born Compared to Native Swedes 1987–1999," Nursing Research and Practice, Hindawi, vol. 2012, pages 1-11, October.
    3. Ford, Julian D. & Trestman, Robert L. & Tennen, Howard & Allen, Scott, 2005. "Relationship of anxiety, depression and alcohol use disorders to persistent high utilization and potentially problematic under-utilization of primary medical care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(7), pages 1618-1625, October.
    4. Jeroen W. Knipscheer & Rolf J. Kleber, 2005. "Help-Seeking Behaviour Regarding Mental Health Problems of Mediterranean Migrants in the Netherlands: Familiarity with Care, Consultation Attitude and Use of Services," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(4), pages 372-382, December.
    5. Heide Glaesmer & Ulla Wittig & Elmar Braehler & Alexandra Martin & Ricarda Mewes & Winfried Rief, 2011. "Health care utilization among first and second generation immigrants and native-born Germans: a population-based study in Germany," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(5), pages 541-548, October.

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