title: [Assessment of the demand for and use of health services by rural population of the Province of Salamanca. Survey by personal interviews].
abstract: This study falls within the framework of the Community epidemiological studies and has the aim of ascertaining the demand for and use of health care services on the part of the rural population in Salamanca through the use of a Health Survey taken on a representative sample thereof. Surveys based on personal interviews are a useful method for obtaining data in epidemiological research and are a fast way of obtaining direct, up-to-date health data, making it possible to ascertain data such as demand for and use of services without excluding that sector of the population not normally making use of the health care services (the underprivileged). Herein, we provide a description of the data which, when analyzed, can aid us in defining some of the needs and problems to be given priority and to be solved by the Health Care System and in rationally forecasting the future demand for health care services, which is the essence of Health Care Planning. According to the results obtained, the greatest demand is for primary care, falling within the 71% percentile, with the main reason for seeking medical advice being the request for prescriptions. Only 7% of the demand at the level of primary care reach the hospital level, which gives one an idea of the functional importance of Primary Care in our Health Care Systems.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina-Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidad de Salamanca.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sáenz González
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mirón Canelo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González Celador
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain
vernacular_title: Valoración de la demanda y utilización de los servicios sanitarios por parte de la población rural de la provincia de Salamanca. Encuesta por entrevista personal.