Explaining variations in the frequency of night visits in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
The study identifies factors which explain variations in the frequency of night visits made by general practitioners, and is based on a cross-section regression analysis of practices in Lincolnshire in 1993.


METHODS
The independent variables comprise 22 general practice characteristics, related to health and socio-demographic structure of practice lists, practice management and organization, location and social deprivation.


CONCLUSIONS
A final model containing 6 of the 22 variables originally entered succeeds in explaining 72 per cent of the variation in the frequency of night visits per GP per quarter-year. These variables are average list size per GP, frequency of home visits, maternity claims, list inflation owing to the influx of temporary residents, the number of proximate practices and unemployment.
Whynes
D K
DK
Department of Economics, University of Nottingham, UK.
Baines
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009551:Night Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors