Table 3

Associated factors of coding by physicians

Coding
Coded* (n = 57,041)
Non-coded(n = 36,409)
Adjusted Odds Ratios** (95% C.I.)
p value
Patient





Age on appt. (no.%)




<50
6,414(11.2)
7,484(20.6)
1.000 (reference)

50–59
12,735(22.3)
9,704(26.7)
1.364(1.302, 1.429)
<0.001
60–69
13,566(23.8)
7,516(20.6)
1.774(1.692, 1.861)
<0.001
≥70
24,327(42.6)
11,705(32.1)
2.180(2.088, 2.277)
<0.001
Gender




Male
24,918(43.7)
15,412(42.3)
1.000 (reference)

Female
32,123(56.3)
20,997(57.7)
1.202(1.168,1.238)
<0.001
Payment status




Fee-waivers
15,475(27.1)
9,696(26.6)


Payers
41,566(72.9)
26,713(73.4)
Not significant

District of residence




Shatin
32,851(57.6)
12,120(33.3)
1.000 (reference)

Taipo
11,436(20.0)
11,156(30.6)
0.316(0.304, 0.327)
<0.001
North
9,995(17.5)
10,684(29.3)
0.330(0.318, 0.343)
<0.001
Others
2,759(4.8)
2,449(6.7)
0.405(0.381, 0.432)
<0.001
Service type




General
50,350(88.3)
34,524(94.8)
1.000 (reference)

FMSC
6,503(11.4)
1,673(4.6)
1.448(1.362, 1.539)
<0.001
Staff clinic
188(0.3)
212(0.6)
0.940(0.760, 1.162)
0.565
Appointment type (no./%)




New case
24,974(43.8)
23,831(65.5)
1.000 (reference)

Old case
32,067(56.2)
12,578(34.5)
2.394(2.324, 2.467)
<0.001

(FMSC: Family Medicine Specialist Clinic. *Coded group refers to patients having at least one code, either K86 or exclusion coding. **represent odds ratios after controlling for all the predictor variables)

Wong et al. BMC Health Services Research 2008 8:138   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-138