TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of population characteristics on variation in general practice based morbidity estimations
AU - van den Dungen, Catharina
AU - Hoeymans, Nancy
AU - Boshuizen, Hendriek C.
AU - van den Akker, Marjan
AU - Biermans, Marion C. J.
AU - van Boven, Kees
AU - Brouwer, Henk J.
AU - Verheij, Robert A.
AU - de Waal, Margot W. M.
AU - Schellevis, Francois G.
AU - Westert, Gert P.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: General practice based registration networks (GPRNs) provide information on morbidity rates in the population. Morbidity rate estimates from different GPRNs, however, reveal considerable, unexplained differences. We studied the range and variation in morbidity estimates, as well as the extent to which the differences in morbidity rates between general practices and networks change if socio-demographic characteristics of the listed patient populations are taken into account. Methods: The variation in incidence and prevalence rates of thirteen diseases among six Dutch GPRNs and the influence of age, gender, socio economic status (SES), urbanization level, and ethnicity are analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Results are expressed in median odds ratios (MOR). Results: We observed large differences in morbidity rate estimates both on the level of general practices as on the level of networks. The differences in SES, urbanization level and ethnicity distribution among the networks' practice populations are substantial. The variation in morbidity rate estimates among networks did not decrease after adjusting for these socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics of populations do not explain the differences in morbidity estimations among GPRNs
AB - Background: General practice based registration networks (GPRNs) provide information on morbidity rates in the population. Morbidity rate estimates from different GPRNs, however, reveal considerable, unexplained differences. We studied the range and variation in morbidity estimates, as well as the extent to which the differences in morbidity rates between general practices and networks change if socio-demographic characteristics of the listed patient populations are taken into account. Methods: The variation in incidence and prevalence rates of thirteen diseases among six Dutch GPRNs and the influence of age, gender, socio economic status (SES), urbanization level, and ethnicity are analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Results are expressed in median odds ratios (MOR). Results: We observed large differences in morbidity rate estimates both on the level of general practices as on the level of networks. The differences in SES, urbanization level and ethnicity distribution among the networks' practice populations are substantial. The variation in morbidity rate estimates among networks did not decrease after adjusting for these socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics of populations do not explain the differences in morbidity estimations among GPRNs
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-887
DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-887
M3 - Article
C2 - 22111707
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 11
SP - 887
JO - BMC public health
JF - BMC public health
IS - 1
M1 - 887
ER -