Table 3

Appropriateness of medical care

GP (n = 50)

MOC (n = 100)

UH (n = 100)

PCP (n = 250)

NHC (n = 200)

Absolute Difference

n

n

n

n [%]

n [% ]

% [CI95%]

P-Value

Defining needs

44

97

90

231 [92.4]

158 [79]

13.4% [6.9;19.9]

p < 0.0001

Medical history

45

99

97

241 [96.4]

174 [87]

9.4% [4.2;14.6]

p = 0.0002

Clinical examination

47

98

95

240 [96]

170 [85]

11% [5.5;16.5]

p < 0.0001

Complementary investigations

50

99

95

244 [97.6]

199 [99.5]

-1.9% [-4;0.2]

p = 0.1056

Referral

50

100

96

246 [98.4]

197 [98.5]

-0.1% [-2.3;2.2]

p = 0.9321

Access to treatment

48

100

96

244 [97.6]

198 [99]

-1.4% [-3.7;0.9]

p = 0.2641

Excessive medical care

0

1

1

2 [0.8]

3 [1.5]

-0.7% [-2.7;1.3]

p = 0.4815

Overall appropriateness

42

97

90

229 [91.6]

157 [78.5]

13.1% [6.4;19.8]

p = 0.0001

GP: General Practitioners, MOC: Medical Outpatient Clinic, UH: University Hospital (emergency ward department), PCP: Primary Care Physician (GP+MOC+UH), NHC: Nurse Healthcare Centre.

Bodenmann et al. BMC Public Health 2007 7:310   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-310