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[Variability in resource utilization in primary care].

OBJECTIVE
To measure variability in the use of primary care resources and identify factors that explain the differences.


DESIGN
An ecological observation study.


SETTING
Primary care.


PARTICIPANTS
The 1996 index of frequency of attendance was chosen as the indicator of primary care resource use throughout the territory managed by INSALUD.


INTERVENTIONS
The analysis was conducted on a provincial basis, using the statistical technique of multiple linear regression. The index of frequency of attendance was chosen as dependent variable; and demographic, social and economic, mortality, organisation, and offer and accessibility indicators were chosen as explanatory or independent variables.


MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
There was wide variability in frequency of attendance in the areas managed by INSALUD during 1996, with a variation coefficient of 20.5%. The simple linear regression analysis showed that the population's income explained 55% of variability. Income, the number of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants and the percentage of children under 3 explained 70% of the variability of frequency of attendance at primary care.


CONCLUSIONS
There are differences between provinces in primary care health resource use. Attendance for primary care consultation in INSALUD is more frequent in provinces with a low social and economic level, more doctors per 1000 inhabitants and more children under 3.