Perceived health and use of health services in children population in Barcelona, Spain.

BERRA S; RAJMIL L; ESTRADA MD; BORREL C; SERRA-SUTTON V; RODRIGUEZ M; RILEY A; STARFIELD B

Praga (República Checa)

Congreso; ISOQOL meeting; 2003

International Society of Quality of Life

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between use of health services and health care needs in children population. Data were obtained from the Barcelona Health Interview Survey 2000. 5– 14 year-old children were randomly selected (n ¼ 836). Proxy respondents were the mother, the father or other responsible party. Health services utilization variables were: visits to a health care professional in the previous 15 days, and visits to the emergency service and hospitalisation during the year prior to the interview. Children’s needs were assessed by means of the ‘discomfort’ domain, and ‘satisfaction with health’ domain of the parent version of the Child Health and Illness Profile (CHIP-PE), a comprehensive measure of children’s health. Both domain scores were categorized in three levels (lowest, middle and highest). The worse health profile (WHP) was defined when both domains were at the lowest level, and the best health profile (BHP) was defined when they were at the highest level. Sociodemographic and family characteristics were also collected, including self-perceived health and mental health of the proxy-respondent (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12). Logistic regression models were adjusted. The factor associated with visits to a health care profesional was being in the WHP (Odds Ratio OR ¼ 2.32; 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.29–4.17). Some family factors, as well as a poor mental health of the proxy-respondent (scoring 3 or more in the GHQ-12), were associated with visits to the emergency department. The probability of hospitalisation was higher in children reporting a chronic condition (OR: 3.57; 95% CI: 1.74–7.33). We did not find inequalities by social class in the use of health services. The results suggest an equitable use of health services in relation to need. The CHIP-PE seems to be a suitable measure for health care needs in children population.