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Inequity in access to digital public primary healthcare in Sweden: a cross-sectional study of the effects of urbanicity and socioeconomic status on utilization

Authors :
Jon Eriksson
Susanna Calling
Ulf Jakobsson
Moa Wolff
Beata Borgström Bolmsjö
Veronica Milos Nymberg
Source :
International Journal for Equity in Health, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
BMC, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Background Social and geographical inequity in access to primary healthcare is an ongoing concern in Sweden. Digital care can potentially decrease geographical inequity. This study aimed to evaluate how urbanicity affects the utilization of a public digital primary healthcare service - PHC Online. Methods We performed an ecological cross-sectional study of 4,482 PHC Online visits grouped by 83 public primary healthcare centers. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with PHC Online visits per 1,000 registered patients as the dependent variable and urbanicity (municipalities grouped by number of inhabitants), socioeconomic status (Care Need Index), and morbidity (Adjusted Clinical Groups) per primary healthcare center as independent variables. Results Utilization of PHC Online was more common among those of a younger age (median 32 years) and among women (65%). Urbanicity did not affect utilization. Lower socioeconomic status and higher morbidity had negative effects on utilization (B -3.289, p = 0.001, B -7.728, p = 0.045). Conclusions Geographical differences based on urbanicity do not seem to affect the utilization of PHC Online. Further studies are needed to clarify a possible association to geographical barriers in access to primary healthcare, specifically accounting for factors associated with urbanicity and distance to physical clinics, and how age and sex affect such an association. Lower utilization of PHC Online in low socioeconomic status and high morbidity populations raises questions on the effect of digital primary care on equitable access to primary healthcare.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14759276
Volume :
23
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
International Journal for Equity in Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.817d69281520424091a8e584dc7f06b8
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02159-7